Who is St. Nicholas?

My child 9 year old child was asked if he still believed in Santa. His friend's family is not going to raise their baby to believe in Santa Claus, the older child thinks it’s “very sad”. My son seemed sad when he asked me “Mom, don’t you believe in Santa?”
I had to remind him of the TRUE story of St. Nicholas and why YES – we believe in the spirit of Santa Claus. It’s the same spirit of giving to celebrate Jesus’ birthday. I researched the facts on the web for the TRUE story of St. Nicolas, the following is a brief from the web site:

“The true story of Santa Claus begins with Nicholas, who was born during the third century in, a village in what is now Turkey. His wealthy parents, who raised him to be a devout Christian, died in an epidemic while Nicholas was still young. Obeying Jesus' words to "sell what you own and give the money to the poor," Nicholas used his whole inheritance to assist the needy, the sick, and the suffering. He dedicated his life to serving God and was made of while still a young man.” Click on the title link to read the whole scoop!

I never raised my children to sit on Santa’s lap, Josh never wrote Santa and the presents don’t come wrapped “FROM SANTA”, he doesn’t even leave Santa cookies, Josh just wakes up to presents. I’ll never forget the Christmas Michael went back to school telling all his friends, (about 10 years old) “There MUST be a Santa because there is NO WAY my mom could afford a Sony PlayStation! We are too poor for that!” Thus developing the spirit of FAITH, we have God’s Holy Spirit within us. Christmas is about Jesus Christ and HIS celebration. Let me tell you, God like things did happen that Christmas in order to afford that PlayStation. Haven’t you had those Christmas’ where you didn’t know how you were going to make it for your kids? Well by FAITH in God alone is the only way you make it, He allows it for you to see your kids enjoy the celebration.

We can still keep Christ in Christmas and keep the spirit of Christmas alive in the hearts of kids in the morning as they wake up to a gift of joy! Isn’t it fun for you as the adult to see their joy as they play with their presents. What joy and happieness I get seeing their eyes light up in wonder as they see what was left for them or what they have in their stockings! Our Father in heaven wants us to be happy just like we want our children to be happy. Just like St. Nicholas wanted all the kids to be happy. (The Wise men came when baby Jesus lay asleep in His manger and left gifts in the night, in celebration of his birth.)

Was there a Santa Claus? Is there really a man in a red suit with 8 tiny reindeer that fly around and land on the roof and come down the chimney – of course not!? There are adults that claim when they found out it was there parents that left the presents and that they "lied" the whole time that they where crushed and devestated afterwards and maybe then it's best for them. I think most children enjoyed "Santa" and were never devestated, if you were to take a poll. If it were the case it would not be as commercialized or as fun to keep the tradition going. Traditions usually come from true stories once told and then carried out into an action and this is just what the story of Santa Claus is - a tradition of the true story of St. Nicholas. He was a man who gave from his heart serving God, he gave to orphans, the needy and all the suffering and his spirit lives on in all of us in honor our Lord, Jesus Christ.

Keep the spirit of St. Nicholas and giving alive in the hearts of your kids as you honor Christ next Christmas.
In His Spirit!
Allie