Prayers to Santa

First Christmas with my new daughter, and I am already excited for new traditions to be formed as she grows up enough to begin interacting with those traditions.

I am also nervous about it. She is only 3 1/2 months old and nearly every single present under the tree was for her. Even though she has no idea what is even happening right now, she has been flooded with gifts she will never even know she had.

Why am I nervous?

A few weeks ago, a friend of mine was in tears as he explained the previous night's bedtime prayer with his 3-year-old daughter at which she briefly prayed to Jesus and seamlessly transitioned into a prayer to Santa. I sat and empathized with a Father whose heart broke at the reality of a daughter throwing Jesus to the wayside in prayer to Santa Claus during the time of year Jesus is to be most honored.

Each Father in the room that day fully realizes his daughter is only 3 years old, and I realize my daughter is only 3 1/2 MONTHS, but the heart does (and should) break to know you don't want that for your children.

You don't want your children to fall prey to the American Christianity, the American riches, or American materialism which prays more to Santa than our Immanuel. You don't want to raise children who are wrapped up in the same demand for everything you want.

I want my daughter to know and prioritize the celebration of a God who came near and made our soul feel its worth. I want my daughter to never be confused who to pray to. I want my daughter to see and care more for the poor, the orphaned, and the widow more than she does herself.

No, I do not want to be a Scrooge, and yes, I will melt to see my daughter soak up Christmas. Yes, my Father's heart loves to give gifts to my beloved.

I am simply nervous raising a child in riches (compared to the rest of this world, even America's poor are filthy rich) and making sure she always keeps the proper priorities.