As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound:
These verses have some interesting parallels to our salvation experience!
Once Pa drew in his head, Santa came down the chimney. We tend to look outside ourselves at the world around us, focused on what is happening in this realm.
We see the glittering, shiny, secular world tempting us, not realizing that it is hollow and enslaves us to sin rather than the “freedom” it seems to promise.
Examining our hearts and looking inward with honesty, we must recognize that we are sinners, lost in a dark world, enslaved to things that do not satisfy us. We see the need for a savior, for his mercy on us and his grace to extend salvation when we do not yet even deserve it.
At this moment, when we “draw in our head” from the allure of the world and accept the person of Jesus and his free gift of salvation, he “comes down [into our lives] with a bound!”
Isn’t that so cool!
This is where the parallels end, as we know Santa moves to the next house quickly to fill those children’s stockings. But our savior resides with us forever, the Holy Spirit indwelling our heart.
Jesus said it like this:
John 3:1-8
Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. 2 He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.”
3 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.[a]”
4 “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!”
5 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit[b] gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You[c] must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” [d]
It is important to note Jesus explains salvation as a birth experience.
Nicodemus comments that no one can enter a second time into the womb. Being born is a permanent change of status.
In the same way, I believe Jesus used this analogy to explain salvation as a permanent change of status, which can’t be reversed.
So although Santa leaves your house after entering each Christmas Eve, Jesus never leaves your life when you are born again!
I hope this is comforting to know, it is for me!
We often fail and sin and don’t feel worthy, and we aren’t. That’s why Jesus had to die, to cover us in his shed blood so God sees his worthiness. If we could do it on our own, we wouldn’t need him.
As you ponder the miracle of Jesus’ birth once again this Christmas season, as we so often do, think about the permanent change of status you have in him, and celebrate life!
That is genuinely the merriest Christmas gift ever!
SURPRISE PRESENT
I thought it would be a great time to explore…”THE TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS!”
This song has long been believed to represent many of our Christian beliefs. Although there doesn’t seem to be evidence of this according to some experts, it is a beautiful way to redeem this song and teach Christian values anyway.
Below is the symbolism of each part of the song explained and a video of the song with lyrics.
The “True Love” one hears in the song is not a smitten boy or girlfriend but Jesus Christ, because truly Love was born on Christmas Day. The partridge in the pear tree also represents Him because that bird is willing to sacrifice its life if necessary to protect its young by feigning injury to draw away predators.
According to Ann Ball in her book, HANDBOOK OF CATHOLIC SACRAMENTALS:
The two turtle doves were the Old and New Testaments
The three French hens stood for faith, hope, and love.
The four calling birds were the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.
The five golden rings rerepresented the first five books of the Old Testament, which describe man’s fall into sin and the great love of God in sending a Savior.
The six geese a-laying stood for the six days of creation.
Seven swans a-swimming represented the sevenfold gifts of the Holy Spirit—–Prophesy, Serving, Teaching, Exhortation, Contribution, Leadership, and Mercy.
The eight maids a-milking were the eight beatitudes.
Nine ladies dancing were the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit—–Charity, Joy, Peace, Patience [Forbearance], Goodness [Kindness], Mildness, Fidelity, Modesty, Continency [Chastity].
The ten lords a-leaping were the Ten Commandments.
The eleven pipers piping stood for the eleven faithful Apostles.
The twelve drummers drumming symbolized the twelve points of belief in The Apostles’ Creed.
This site looks to have some fun printables for our theme, check it out!
Twelve days of Christmas pintables.
As usual, I did the homework and found some fun art that could be a launching pad for drawing projects this week!
Creating this tree with images from the song is a cute idea.
For younger children, you could print the images and cut them out, allowing them to count and glue to replicate this tree.
Older children might enjoy drawing the images, or drawing one image to be copied the correct number of times so they can be cut out and glued to make the tree.
What ideas do you have for fun art projects around the song, “The Twelve Days of Christmas?”