Storytime Tapestry Newsletter

The newsletter devoted to spreading love and cultural awareness around the world.

January 13, 2008

Today’s Announcements

Both Contests are now closed.  You have until January 14 to vote for the Christmas Stories to complete our annual contests.

Please make the effort and submit your votes.  Our writers are counting on you!

The Latest on Matt’s Mom is that she has kidney stones.  Matt’s mom is going back to the hospital on January 18^th to have the stones removed.  She is still in pain but they cannot do anything about it before then.  Please continue to pray for her.

Don’t forget to order your copy of Angels Watching Over Me, the story of an ordinary woman facing less than ordinary challenges.  Angels Watching Over Me is a story of family love, sacrifices, poverty and an undying faith that makes heroes out of all of us. Here is the link in case you have forgotten it: http://www.lulu.com/content/964306

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Today’s Stories

  ~**~**~

How I came to believe as I do, concerning Christmas and Halloween ...

By Joyce C. Lock

When growing up, in our house, lying fit right up there with the unpardonable sin.  So, when I would have given consideration to the fact that Santa Clause is not real, I dismissed it due to my faith in my parents.  Then, when a friend tried to convince me otherwise, I refused to receive it based upon what I thought was a sure foundation that my parents would not lie.  But, in order to shut this girl up, I finally agreed to ask my parents.  And since that day, I have known that adults lie.  And for that reason alone, I never told my children there was a Santa Clause.

My thought was, "How can children know we are telling the truth about God once they know we lied about Santa Clause?"  I have heard said 'most don't take it so hard'.  But, that was not the case with me.

Oh, I was not disappointed about Santa Clause.  After all, that surely explained why 'everything on my wish list' was not under the tree; and the rest seemed a bit ridiculous, anyway.  It was the fact 'my parents had lied' which hit me so hard; possibly the day my little glass world shattered, realizing my faith could not be in them.

I might have been about six or seven, I am not sure.  But, what I do remember was making a covenant to never lie to my children.  Though, I had not decided what I would do; just the part that I would not lie.

One lady told me it was important for children to have fantasies; that they needed it.  I had never heard anything like that before and did not really know if it were true.  Looking back, I would say there is a difference between children pretending (for which they know is pretend) and us creating a reality for them that does not exist.  But then, I did not know.  So, I said nothing.  If they wanted to say there was a Santa Clause, fine; as long as it was not me saying it.  Though, I did shelter my children from hearing it, as much as possible.

Then, when my eldest first asked me about Santa Clause, I asked her if she really wanted to believe in Santa Clause or if she would rather know the truth.  At that time, she choose to believe in Santa Clause.  But, when she asked me again, she said she really wanted to know the truth.  So, I told her the original St. Nicholas story, as I believed it to be.  And she seemed pleased that she could always trust me to be the one to tell her the truth.  And so, I thought I had done my job.

But, my younger daughter was an extreme visual learner and she was sure Santa Clause was real based upon what she had seen on television; and she knew all about him!  Needless to say, it became quickly evident that silence was no longer an option.  She needed to 'know' that TV, period, is not reality ... as we can not even trust the news to give both sides of a story.  And so, I corrected her and explained; and she was ok with it.

It was not until many years later that I attended a church Christmas program (the best program I saw, that year) that prompted me to speak up even more than the newspaper article I had written concerning the parental deception.  There were clowns, a neat play, and Santa Clause.  Up until Santa, it had been fun and funny ... even though we all enjoy his candy.  But, Jesus was never once mentioned.

And suddenly, I knew something was wrong.  My stomach began to ache and I felt ill all over.  And, no, I was not sick.  It was God allowing me to experience how He felt about it.  Thus, I could not get out of that building fast enough.  Later, I, privately (so as to not create havoc), expressed my (God's) objection with the pastor.

Soon thereafter, the pastor did a lesson on how holidays began as holy days, for which he sited scripture, in attempt to replace pagan festivities with something more God centered; being new converts had not wanted to give up their traditions.  He said that each holiday, celebrated by Christians, would somehow give glory to God ... and that Halloween was the only holiday wherein the church had completely failed in the attempt of 'turning it around' to be anything Christian.

He also shared about the original St. Nicholas, based upon a historical book; which was very similar as to how I had heard it to be.

Only thereafter did I read that the original St. Nicholas story is not true ... that the Roman Catholic church 'made it up' to cover their error once they realized St. Nicholas hated children.

And, with the varied stories surrounding Him, and hearing every possibly viable explanation there is as to why it is acceptable to lie to children about Santa Clause, it seemed appropriate to ask God as, otherwise, there did not seem to be a way of knowing how to digest all that information.  As a result, God led me to the dictionary.  Webster’s New World Dictionary says, "Nick (nik), n. the Devil: usually Old Nick," as well as others referring to goblin and demon.

So, this conviction (to not include Santa Clause) has been growing since childhood, not by any religious training, but as something God placed within my heart; for which He has slowly revealed more to me ... maybe as I grew to want more of Him than me.  As a result, I even discontinued using Santa in my humor e-mails.  One lady reminded me, "Well, you did last year," and she still had the evidence!  What could I say?  I am still growing.

And so, I had to make an amendment to my article ...

~ One of Satan's Tricks ~

When I think about the original St. Nicholas and what kind of man he might have been, I think he was a Christian who loved God, and thus grew a heart of compassion for people.

He was humble and sincere in his service, as he chose to obey God's Word in keeping his alms a secret ... desiring the glory to belong to God (anyone, who has ever loved God more than himself, would not have it any other way) … and he did not require a special holiday to consider another's need.

St. Nicholas may not have been jolly on every occasion, as he lived in the real world; just like the rest of us.  However, I believe he did have true joy in his heart because he was in tune with his Maker.

St. Nicholas was a common man with an uncommon heart, who allowed himself to be used by God in both his church and community.  He would have thought his gesture of good will to be small potatoes in comparison to the gift of Jesus.

If he had known the perversion in commercialism and greed that would ensue, I think it would have made St. Nicholas feel absolutely sick.  And, if St. Nicholas would have known he'd take precedence over Jesus, I believe he would have cursed the day his secret gift was discovered.

~ * ~

The above is the only article I have ever written wherein I shared my opinion, not just what God had revealed to me.  It was written in conclusion to a historical account, of the original St. Nicholas, that was taught in my local church.  It was not too hard to receive, considering I want to believe that, underneath, people are basically good.

The one time I listened to teachings of men, I got suckered.

It was only thereafter that I discovered the story was actually a cover-up to the truth that St. Nicholas hated children.  A gentleman of that original faith stated, "What difference does it make?  That isn't who he is, now."

My question, then, is, "How is Santa Clause any different from any other fairy tale?"  Ok, no it isn't.  My real question is the same as it has always been; the same one that challenged the historical tale in the first place.  "How can we expect children to believe us concerning things of God, when we lie to them about Santa Clause?"

Santa Clause has never visited our home.
Just knowing that 'mom will always tell the truth'
has instilled a trust in my children that is invaluable
and has prevented them following many doctrines of men.

Preserve one's child-like faith at all cost.
The rewards are Heavenly!


"I have no greater joy than to hear
that my children walk in truth."

3 John 1:4

© by Joyce C. Lock

Even so, as a child, before days of saving energy, other's outdoor lights looked like gingerbread houses; but, not ours.  And so, I dreamed of, someday, having really beautiful Christmases ... full of lights and decorations.

Christmas was my very favorite season, if only for its beauty and perhaps to fulfill that childhood fantasy; not one that I ever knew to seek God about.  Even so, for at least the past 20 years (I do not recall before that), my favorite part about Christmas has been giving a gift, from my heart, to God.  And in years past, to not have a gift for God would have broken my heart.  But this past Christmas, there seemed to be nothing to give ... and God responded, "You are the gift."  It sort of reminds me of the Bible words, "I seek not yours, but you."  And so, from that I conclude, when we give a gift to God, it is not the present, but the heart that gave it ... that the heart is the true gift.

Anyway, in more recent years, we have both made effort and seen the necessity to teach our grandchildren that Christmas is more about giving than receiving.  We even let them take turns giving a package ('til the packages are all gone from under the tree) so their energy is spent on giving instead of waiting to receive ... and that has made Christmas better, too.

But the Christmas we spent at the hospital, when our youngest grandson was born, was the best ever.  It was an awesome spiritual Bethlehem experience, which was way better than any Christmas we could create!  http://www.holyisthelamb.com/viewnugget.php?id=43

On another year, God painted our surroundings with the most beautiful glittering snow I have ever seen ... and so, to me, the most beautiful Christmases (spiritually, also) are the ones He creates.  And now, it would not feel like Christmas, at all, without His presence.

But also, I, now, see Christmas lights representative of our Father of lights; not gingerbread houses.  No doubt, His heart must glow when He looks upon us and sees His true lights.

In conclusion, the one thing I can say, concerning Christmas, is that something about it changes almost yearly; as I grow in Him.  And yet, in all fairness, my parents were newer converts when I was little.  And so, the only example they had, of what Christmas should be, was what they saw in other Christians.

___________

Surely, you must be wondering, by now, 'what on earth' Christmas has to do with Halloween.  For me, even though I did not know to seek God on it, I have known there was something 'not quite right' concerning Christmas since I was a child.

But, in regard to Halloween, there were no childhood clues.  We did not trick, soap, paper, do anything mean spirited or wear anything considered to be satanic.  As long as we behaved like Christians, mom thought we were in the clear.  And with those guidelines, there was no one, within our doctrine, objecting.  But if there would happen to have been an unknown objector, we never heard it as we soon began to be in mission work; where fellow members were mostly new converts.

Maybe I learn backwards.  Ok, so I know I do.  But, it does stand to reason, if God has issues with Christmas, He would surely have something to say about Halloween.  Though, I had never really considered it.

Even without money for grand decorations, God always provided means wherein our house would be prettily done at Christmas.  But, never had we had the first Halloween decoration.

Then, one year, hubby brought home an absolutely huge cotton ball a teacher had thrown away, at work ... and I was so excited!  God had provided the material to create a Halloween decoration! or, so I thought.  I got an old white sheet, wrapped it around the ball, tied it at the neck, gave it a face using a Magic Marker ®, and hubby stringed it from the porch ceiling.  Wola!  We had a really nice ghost, better than any seen in the stores.

Casper was a friendly ghost.  So, what is wrong with a ghost?  It is not an evil one.  It is a nice ghost.  Casper was a nice ghost.  Besides, there is no such thing as ghosts.  So, why was it bothering me?  I did not know, but something just did not feel right.

At that time, we had a church sign in our yard.  It was something I had never seen done before; but was an idea the church came up with, anyway.  All church members were given a free sign (like a realtor's sign) to put in their yard ... about our church.  It looked to almost be saying we were a member of some high society church.  But, it was also an invitation for others to visit.

So, when I stepped outside my house to look, in trying to determine what the problem might be, all I could determine was that a ghost and a church sign did not belong in the same yard.  And so, reluctantly, I took down the ghost.  Oh, pooh!

Another really cool thing, hubby brought home from work, was a ceramic pumpkin; again, that one of the teachers had thrown away.  And, it was a really neat one, too!  (No, he does not go through trash.  But then, he sometimes, emptied it.)  Only, thereafter, I read about how the origin of faces, on pumpkins, were believed to ward off evil spirits.  Ok, but pumpkins are not evil.  Pumpkins are food!  And mine had a happy face on it, not an evil look.  Happy faces are good.  So, I should be in the clear, right?

Well, I was convinced (or, I should say, I had convinced myself) ... until, as room mother, I began crocheting pumpkin faces (to make pins) for the children: a party favor for their school Halloween party.  And, again, these where nice smiley faces.  But, there was a spirit of gloom every time I began to crochet.  And so, finally, I asked God, "I don't get it.  What is wrong with pumpkins?"  The answer to my question is, probably, 'nothing really' (unless you want to count that God is our protection from evil, not a pumpkin face) - but, certainly, 'nothing' when there are no faces on it.

Though, this was God's answer ... "Be in the world without being like the world.  Avoid even the appearance of evil."  And so, for awhile, I turned the face around to where no one could see it.  It was a compromise, I know.  But, we were poor in those days.  Though, since, it has been replaced it with a pumpkin that has no face on it.  But even so, falling into legalism is not what God wanted me to learn.

Once God had my attention, I began to look and He began to show me 'more than I would have ever thought to look'.  There were many Halloween decorations, on every street.  There was a preacher's yard full of Halloween decorations.  Is the devil who he wanted people to think he represented?  Is he who we want to represent?

Then, there was a flag, that represented 'something evil', hanging with the American flag and another flag that was even more evil than the first.  Suddenly, I felt ill all over - like I had felt in the church Christmas program that Jesus was not invited to.  Instantly, I knew God abhorred the celebration of Halloween.  And what I heard, in that moment, was this ... we have invited (not just welcomed, but invited) evil into our country.  That is what is wrong with America.

That was the first year my children never went trick-or-treating.  And as hard as it was to let go of something we thought was so much fun, we have not missed it at all.  Our church began holding a Christian oriented Fall Festival, which helped to wean the children of the expectation of trick-or-treating.  And since then, we have found other things to do on that day.

In both cases, my change in beliefs, concerning these holidays, were not a product of religion or any man's doctrine, but something God led me to.

And since I knew 'not to lie' about Santa Clause, I also knew that Thanksgiving is not about a turkey and not to teach my children about cupid, the tooth fairy (any fairy), or even the Easter bunny.  In fact, once my eldest heard of the tooth fairy, she came to me and said, "Mom, that isn't true, either.  Is it?"

And, guess what?  My children did not feel a bit deprived in knowing the truth ... as long as I handed them some change for a pulled tooth and an occasional chocolate goody at Easter. :-)  (Though, Easter goodies were not really 'hoped for' or 'expected'.  They were just a nice little reward for being such good troopers in not doing holidays the world's way.)  And with a second generation of children who know the truth, they do not even have such expectations.

And yet, something about Christmas still does not feel right.  It is not our birthday! which is a little harder to resolve, in regard to what changes to make, being our family is a lot larger than it once was.  And so, I am still waiting to see what God will do with that.  He may, very well, grow us some more.  But, we are not a bit displeased in having followed Him thus far.

And so, that is my story (albeit, a true one) of how I came to believe as I do, concerning Christmas and Halloween.

Often, I wonder what people would do differently, at Christmas, if Jesus were here.  And, whatever each's individual answer is, that is the type of Christmas that would bless God; a giving of one's heart.  So, perhaps it is time to present that question to my family, extended family, and even to you - not to necessarily to give up Christmas, but to make it a better one ... one that would make the early church proud.  And you can be sure that, wherever the Lord is invited, welcomed, and present, it is always CHRISTMAS!

© 2007 by Joyce C. Lock

http://iam.homewithGod.com/glimpsesofgod/

~**~**~

~**~**~

Story Feedback

Here are the Published Christmas entries to Date.  If you want to review the stories or poems before voting which will come only at the end of this contest, just go to the archives:  http://archives.zinester.com/98907

Stories

Here is our Storytime Tapestry Angels: Also, I would like to thank those of you who chose to be a silent angel and gave an anonymous donation to keep Storytime Tapestry up and running.

Clara Westerfer, Mark Crider, Rosanne Catalano, Paula Booher, Kay Seefeldt, Mariane Holbrook, Mary Ellen Grisham, Louise Nomani, Sharon Bryant, Angela Walker, Hart and Helen Dowd, Keith Ready, Ginger Morgenstern, Ellie Braun-Haley, Surinder Jandu, Bob Shaw, Carol Meeks, Charlotte Hilliard, Maria Keller, Marilyn Sink, Victor Buhagiar, Tanja Cilia, Clarice Hinson, Conrad Cardinal,