Father Christmas unmasked…

There is a song that goes back a number of years.  It was written by a guy called Greg Lake.  I can’t help but think he knew the pain of broken promises.

The words of the song speak of the promise of Christmas being shattered.  It speaks of a child at Christmas time: “The peal of the bell and the Christmas tree smell” with “eyes full of tinsel and fire.”  A child with a dream of Christmas.

I Believe in Father Christmas is the name of the song.  It continues saying “they sold me a dream of Christmas.  They sold me the virgin birth.  But in the early morn, at the first light of dawn I woke to see through the disguise.”  Is the joy and wonder of Christmas lost because of a cuddly man in a red suit hiding behind a long grey beard?

Perhaps the original Father Christmas had something else in mind?  Perhaps he saw the father heart of God himself?  Perhaps he saw Christmas as a celebration of an extraordinary gift?  You see, a true gift is given with no strings attached.  It is a gift from the heart of the giver, to the heart of the receiver.

Perhaps the original father Christmas was God himself?  The one who gave the gift of grace and peace, with no strings attached. 

I struggle with the end of the song: “Hallelujah Noel, be it heaven or hell, the Christmas we get we deserve.”  Be it the consequences of difficult life circumstances or unfortunate actions or decisions, I don’t believe anyone deserves a Christmas of brokenness or broken promises.  I do believe the father heart of God is a gift of love, whether it is ‘deserved’ or not.

Christmas is about promises kept.  At times we may need to push past the trauma or pain of a Christmas gone by and look toward the original gift of love, grace and peace to all humanity.  It’s a gift worthy of unwrapping.