elf on the shelf

I knew two years ago I was at the end of my rope with this elf on the shelf when I put him in the blender one night after my twins went to bed. I stood there really contemplating hard about just turning it on and ending the misery of having to come up with a new inventive scheme almost every night after four Christmas seasons in a row. I was out of elf scheming ideas and this looked like an opportunity to be out of the lie. I didn't kill the elf that night. But, a year later, and on Christmas day after opening present, I exposed the entire operation to my twins; all those fabricated components of Christmas. I couldn't handle the burden of keeping up the charade any longer. It felt really good.

There was some fallout though ...Miles asked how he could trust me with anything now knowing I'd lied all these years...what about Jesus?...perhaps I was also lying about Him too. I'm glad he asked those questions; and here's why:

I don't want any of my kids faith to be predicated on my faith. Don't believe it just because I told you it...learn it for yourself.

"Let Gods word be true and every man a liar" Romans 3:4....that includes me! I'm included in "every man"

Test the evidence for yourself and make your own conclusion.

Have you ever asked someone how they came to believe in Jesus and they said "I was just raised that way, so Ive always believed it". I don't ever want that to be my kids testimony. I pray they have a moment where they come to faith on their own after intense scrutiny and questioning. I find that people who don't test the evidence on their own and just rely on the people around them tend to have weaker faith than the ones who question and doubt the claims of the church until the light goes on with the prompting and guidance of the Holy Spirit.

So I'm glad my kids see me for who I am...a fraud who concocted a series of magical elf and Santa scenarios. And I'm also glad I don't have to continue with the ruse :) And now, I'm even more excited to see how God will present Himself to my kids and draw them to faith outside of me...true and real and lasting faith. I don't believe He has moments where he wants to put us in a blender and liquify us...His patience and mercy is much greater than mine. So, cheers this Christmas season to the beauty of a real and authentic Christmas in celebrating the birth of Christ! And cheers to me as a parent from my newfound freedom from the elf!!!