It is difficult to avoid Santa Claus at this time of year.\u00a0 Our two small boys are regularly asked by perfect strangers whether or not Santa is going to come to their house.\u00a0 But for those of us who insist that Christmas is really about the birth of\u00a0 Jesus Christ, this cultural emphasis on Santa and presents can be tough to navigate.<\/p>\n
This year, for the first time, Flannery and I tried something we\u2019ve heard from other Catholic families:\u00a0 we gave the lads some small gifts for the feast of St. Nicholas.\u00a0 Last night we read the story of St. Nicholas, bishop of Myra.\u00a0 We talked about gratitude and generosity and helping those in need.\u00a0 Then we put out our shoes.\u00a0 Lo and behold, in the morning each pair was atop a book and filled with chocolates.\u00a0 We hinted that it wasn\u2019t St. Nick himself who had done the filling, but we didn\u2019t come right out and say that we were responsible.\u00a0 We didn\u2019t have the heart.<\/p>\n
Our hope is that, from now until Christmas, when our kids are asked about Santa, they can say that he already came and that they\u2019re waiting for Jesus.<\/p>\n
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