A few days a go, the elf on the shelf appeared in our house just like in thousands of other home. But unlike in thousands of other homes this elf is not a spy for Santa.
Millions of children get the threat of you better be good or Santa won't come. I've done it. But it doesn't do anything to improve behavior. It is just another empty threat, because let's get real, I'm not going to give my kids nothing but coal for Christmas.
And if Santa was real, he wouldn't either, because he, like Jesus, has harnessed the power of forgiveness.
Our elf is a bit mischievous but not terribly so. Our elf is here to learn to be good and to teach forgiveness. The girls have to forgive Elfie for being wild and a bit naughty.
The girls can play with Elfie and enjoy her. I would be silly to get them a new toy and tell them to never touch it. I want to set them up for success, not failure.
There is no naughty and nice list. We have nice girls in this house and only nice girls. Sometimes they make mistakes but so do I and no one threatens to take my Christmas presents away. Jesus has forgiven me and Jesus has forgiven them.
And so has Santa.
Santa sent a letter carefully explaining that the naughty and nice list is just something people do for fun. I didn't want to make 98% of the world out to be liars! But that Santa is also friends with Jesus and they know all about grace and forgiveness.
And seriously how can your elf be naughty and then it reports back to Santa about your children's naughtiness? Just doesn't make sense!
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