Being outdoors right now, doesn’t put me in the Christmas mood. No snow, or chilly air to build a fire, bake cookies or snuggle on the sofa watching Christmas movies.
Growing up in the 60’s watching television was a very popular activity, and at our house a special treat. Sitting down to see a show merited popcorn or candy and sometimes staying up past your bedtime. As a young girl watching Christmas shows like Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, The Little Drummer Boy and the variety shows of Dean Martin and Bob Hope it began the countdown to Christmas! Movies like Santa Claus is Coming to Town, and Miracle on 34th St. sparked a young one’s imagination and builds up to the mystery of SANTA. As a child catching the important message in the lines can be missed, and even missed through adult eyes and ears. A line such as this one from Miracle on 34th St.
Kris Kringle
Oh, Christmas isn’t just a day, it’s a frame of mind… and that’s what’s been changing. That’s why I’m glad I’m here, maybe I can do something about it.
As the story goes, Susie’s mother had a hard heart but she viewed it as being realistic. She said;
Doris Walker
“And by filling them full of fairy tales they grow up considering life a fantasy instead of reality.”
Now Doris Walker’s heart softened by the end of the movie, and us viewers are left with the slightest hope that Santa does exist. The makers of the movie’s truly know how to play us and make us feel good.
There is a fine line in our minds between expectations being realistic and unrealistic. Movies and music can send us quickly and slyly into the unrealistic realm. Most movies need to be kept in the entertainment category of our brains. Some of us get carried away with fashioning our lives after what we see, thus producing unrealistic expectations.
I grew up believing in Santa, after all I watched movies of him, sang songs with his theme and my Mother played the role pretty well and it was fun! I stopped believing around the age of ten. I wasn’t devastated by the reveal nor was I warped for ever believing in Santa. I had also been taught that Christmas was a celebration/birthday party for Jesus. I was not confused by the two meanings of Christmas. I did not grow into an adult putting more emphasis on presents rather than HIS presence.
It was a smooth natural transition of heart change, rather than a pump up or building up of ….. A change lead by God’s Spirit and the guidance of a mother who knew when, and how to build more emphasis on the celebration of our Savior.
Is there Crazy in your Christmas? How are you building up the expectation of Christmas?