Is there an Elf on the Shelf at your house?
Personally, I’m glad our children were grown before this
practice became so popular.
If you don’t have children or grandchildren, the “game” goes
like this. Families adopt and name an elf who then has special Christmas magic
that permits him to travel to and from the North Pole. Although he’s not to be
touched, families—especially children—are encouraged to talk to the elf and
tell him what they want for Christmas. Said elf then relays those desires to
Santa and the other elves. The elf serves as Santa’s eyes, alerting him to who is “bad
or good,” and delivering the appropriate gifts.
Aside from the whole matter of what to tell your kids about
Santa, Elf on the Shelf adds another level of expectations and demands to the
season. He’s supposed to be moved nightly to a new location so the children are
always to be on the alert for his watching eyes. Some parents relish the
challenge of finding the perfect “unexpected” location for the Elf to spy on
their child, but others may find the nightly duty another unnecessary to-do
item on an already overcrowded list.
The bigger lie is what it tells kids (and grownups)
about the real gift of Christmas. God’s perfect gift didn’t come with strings
attached. In unconditional love he gave his Son to restore our relationship
with him and with one another. He’s not watching to make sure we’re doing
everything right. We aren’t. We can’t. But because we are his image bearers he
is “not only concerned about providing a solution to our fallenness but also
providing a way to restore our broken relationships.”[1]
The best gifts we can give each other are not wrapped in
paper or the trappings of Christmas. They are unconditional love and
acceptance.
Praying that gift for you this season.
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