My two year old, Christopher David, has never met Santa. We never pushed for the mall pictures with Santa because, let's face it, they're expensive and most kids scream bloody murder anyway. And I just don't see the point of forcing my kids to plop on the lap of a complete and total stranger who's posing as a well-known figure of Christmas.
About two months ago though, Christopher began talking about Christmas and "Chrimas Claus" when Hobby Lobby started putting out their holiday decor stock. We've read every Christmas book in the house from the Nativity story to The Night Before Christmas multiple times. And we are now the proud owners of a Santa Claus Potato Head. It is fair to say that my toddler is very excited about this holiday season. So it only stands to reason that when we happened upon the mall Santa this year, there would be some level of eagerness to get to him. I was not expecting the reality of what happened:
As soon as Christopher saw Santa, he stretched and struggled and clamored and climbed and pulled and pushed in every way possible to get down out of my arms and run to the bearded man in the red costume. I had to restrain him through tears and squeals while the child ahead of us finished up her long wish list, before setting Christopher down and when I finally did set him down, he ran into the arms of Santa. He hugged the mess out of that man and then proceeded to climb up into his lap and snuggled his face into the furry white collar of his coat. He was totally trusting and clung to Santa for dear life, as though fearful that at any moment he would be pulled out of his arms.
Fortunately, Santa was a grandfatherly guy with a sweet disposition and, since there were no other children in line, he spent lots of snuggle time with Christopher. But this got me thinking......
When was the last time you ran into the arms of Christ like that? With no reservations or hesitations? When was the last time you clawed and fought and cried and pushed against whatever was holding you back to get to the arms of Christ? When the idea of being with Christ enters your mind, do you immediately jump to a feeling of dread or a feeling of intense comfort and relief?
Even though my mental interpretation of what God looks like is probably totally off, I still have this image of God being this grandfatherly figure with a beard and kind, understanding eyes and a massive lap that is just waiting for me to climb up and rest in. And when I'm feeling the most sad, depressed, frightened, or unsure, that is where I place myself. I picture myself in the lap of God with my head buried in his shoulder and his arms wrapped around me. I picture myself there, wrapped in a love that breaks through every insecurity and doubt and hurt that plagues my heart and mind. And it's the most wonderful feeling to be with the One who's not judging me even though he's the Great Judge, to rest in the arms of the One who will never demand anything from me even though he deserves it all, to confide in the One who already knows everything I've done and said and thought.
Wouldn't it be great to equate God to that level of security all the time instead of feeling like he's only looking for your flaws so he can condemn you? Believe it or not, that's what he's wanted all along......to be our source of comfort and strength, not to function as our accuser. His will is that none should perish, but that we should turn away from sin and create lives centered around a holy relationship with him. Seek a relationship with God that is so intimate that when you enter his throne room, you can run into his arms for a hug and crawl up into his lap. He's a zillion times better than Santa any day :)
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