Last night, my youngest son and I were the only ones upstairs. The rest of the family was watching football, but my little one and I decided to stay upstairs to enjoy the fire that my husband had built. I hate wasting a good fire! As we were sitting, he started peppering me with questions about Santa Claus. "What if Santa starts down the chimney and there's a fire going?" "His suit is fireproof." "What about his beard and nose and ears?" "His skin is fireproof." "How?" "Magic." "Oh." Turns out "Magic" was an acceptable answer for just about all of his questions - "How do all those toys fit in the sleigh?" "What if we didn't have a chimney?" "What if he gets lost?" I could've saved a lot of time if I had just started out with "Magic".
I was thinking this morning about that conversation, and I realized that while each of my children, in time, have questioned their belief in Santa Claus, not one has ever questioned the other, real central being of Christmas - Jesus Christ. It makes complete sense to them that this beautiful, divine baby would be the reason that we celebrate.
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| ©Darrell Wyatt |
I'm not sure why it's such a natural belief for them. I'd like to take the credit and say that it's because of the things that my husband and I have taught them, but I don't think that that's it. Some of it could be attributed to how they've been raised, but I think that most of it is a gift from God. Some people have the gift to believe, and others do not.
I read this morning of a group of people in which some found it easy to believe in the coming of Christ, and others, no matter the signs, no matter the proof, would not believe. Nephi was prophesying of His coming and was met by a pretty tough crowd. He gave them signs that he was telling the truth, which convinced part of the crowd. The rest of the people gathered would still not believe, choosing to think that there was some conspiracy behind the signs. Nephi found this to be extremely frustrating. He talked of Moses and the amazing miracles that he performed through the power of God.
And now behold, if God gave unto this man such power, then why should ye dispute among yourselves, and say that he hath given unto me no power...?
But, behold, ye not only deny my words, but ye also deny all the words which have been spoken by our fathers, and also the words which were spoken by this man, Moses, who had such great power given unto him, yea, the words which he hath spoken concerning the coming of the Messiah. (Helaman 8:12-13)
Nephi went on to explain that many, many prophets had prophesied the exact same things that he had been prophesying. ..."Yea, they have testified of the coming of Christ, and have looked forward, and have rejoiced in his day which is to come."(Helaman 8:22) There were still a great many of the people that hardened their hearts and would not believe in the words that Nephi spoke. Even when they tried to cast him into prison and he was "taken by the spirit and conveyed out of the midst of them", they still doubted. They watched, as the man who was speaking to them was literally lifted out of their midst by the spirit of God, and they still did not believe.
After reading this, I became even more convinced that the belief that my children share with my husband and I, that Christ is real and his Atonement sure, is a gift. My children, as they grow older, may start to have doubts. They may begin to question their testimonies. It's only natural. I might even have a conversation with some of them that is similar to the conversation I had with my son about Santa Claus last night. But I will not have to make up the answers. Just as all questions about Santa can answered with just one word - "magic", all questions that my children have about who they are and what their place is in this world can also be answered using just a phrase - "Jesus Christ". He is the reason for not only this holiday season, but for every day we spend on this earth. Because of Him, we have a purpose. Because of Him, we have a plan - to return to our Father in Heaven. This is not just something that I believe. This is something that I know, beyond a shadow of doubt.
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