A decision every parent must make when raising children is how they will introduce the Tooth Fairy, Santa Clause, the Easter Bunny, and God. I know! This is so controversial and there are many ways to address these topics. Do I think I know all the answers? No way. I'm not going to even try to tell you that there is one solid right answer here. God works in our hearts and families in different ways. However, I do want to share with you what our family does AND give you some biblical insight on these topics.
At some point in every kid's life, they ask, “Is the Tooth Fairy real?” “Is the Easter Bunny real?” or, “Is Santa real?” They will even ask “Is God real?” For me personally, I wasn't sure how I wanted to approach things. Before I had kids, I was so confident about my policies. But now, looking into the eyes of my sweet, hopeful, and soft-hearted kids, I'm not so sure. How can I possibly break their hearts after they believed in it so fully?
So….what did I do when my daughter lost her first tooth?
With my husband by my side, I told my sweet daughter that there is no such thing as the tooth fairy. You know what she did? She frowned, then looked up at me. She said with a smirk, “That's okay. The Mommy and Daddy fairy can just give me something.” Just like that, it was over. The world kept spinning and her imagination kept working all the same. Her childhood wasn't ruined. We did the same thing with Santa, explaining the legend and the actual Saint Nick to her. This is what worked for us.
But…what does the God in the Bible say about it?
Well….this concept of invisible beings that watched you wherever you were, and gave you gifts when you were good. Beings that blessed you with wealth when you gave up an offering, whom you sent messages to ask for things. They were just called gods and idols during Bible days.
In Abrahamic religions, a false god is a deity or object of worship besides the Abrahamic god that is regarded as either illegitimate or non-functioning in its professed authority or capability, and this characterization is further used as a definition of “idol.”
Looking at it that way makes you uncomfortable, doesn't it? I know it makes me feel that way. It feels like a sin that I don't want to acknowledge as sin because it is so natural in our world today to celebrate these things. It seems so harmless. Even now as I type this, I already know some of you are going to shut down and harden your hearts toward this message.
“You shall have no other gods before me.”
Exodus 20:3
When you say it bluntly though, letting our kids think Santa, the Tooth Fairy, and even the Easter Bunny are real, is just teaching our kids to worship false gods and idols. In their little minds, these characters, are looped in with the same invisible God you worship at church (except way more fun). What will happen when your kids are older and they find out Santa isn't real, then the Tooth Fairy isn't real, then the Easter Bunny isn't real? How easy would it be for them to now assume God isn't real either? He was the least tangible of the 4 invisible creatures we celebrated, so of course he isn't real.
Little children, keep yourselves from idols.
1 John 5:21
Now we know that praying (sending letters) to Santa, believing he is omnipresent, and believing he will give us gifts when we are good is worshipping a false god/idol. We also know offering up teeth to a fairy so that she will bless us with wealth is also worshipping a false god/idol. So, why would we teach our children to do this while also teaching them to be Christians?
And he said to them, “You have a fine way of rejecting the commandment of God in order to establish your tradition!”
Mark 7:9
The Reality Of It All
Now, I understand this can be difficult for some people. It was for me too and there are still aspects of my life where I am not yet willing to confront my sins. This is true for every growing Christian. The first thing that we can do to help ourselves, is to pray. Talk to God and thank Him for revealing the reality of these things to you. Pray that He changes your heart, softens it, opens it, and cleanses it to His will and guidance. Let Him be the change in your life. You don't have to be strong enough. You don't have to be perfect right this minute. You don't even have to listen to what I say. You just have to pray. It is His will for your life that matters, not mine.
Don't forget to check out my list of 20 easter books that are Christian Mom approved!
I would love to include you in my prayers as we both pray over our lives and children. Feel free to email me and let me know how your journey is going.
