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Elves, Angels, & Real Christmas

Sonya Leigh Anderson

Updated: Dec 6, 2024


kianagrantphotography.com

Maisy and Nash may have outgrown their belief in Santa. As well as the Elves of Christmas Pajamas. 


You know. The little fairyfolks who steal your PJs when you’re not looking, and fill your drawers with holiday cheer. You’re not aware? 


It’s our fault, really. Papi’s and Nana’s. We were the responsible grownups a couple of weeks back when the kiddos tricked us into a yuletide playlist pre-Thanksgiving. And you know how those songs can inspire. Next thing we know Big Sister vanishes for a minute (no longer) and returns all—


“Mom and Dad are the Pajama Elves.” 


Brother’s spectacled eyes grow wide. 


She has proof, of course. This was obviously premeditated. Following a hunch and figuring Nana and Papi are none-the-wiser. She sneaks away to confirm her suspicion. The reason Mommy’s closet was all-of-a-sudden off limits and 


“The Christmas pajamas are upstairs in the bedroom.” She holds up a Bo-sized onesie as exhibit A. 


Our goose is cooked. Later we’ll have to confess to the parents. 


We may as well tell them about Santa, too… 


That was the gist of the followup conversation. The only pushback being the 8-year-old neighbor who’s still a believer. Who connived to get Nash and Mais to ask for a trampoline this Christmas, in case Santa failed on his end. 


Too bad, Lucas. On all accounts. 


Switching gears, here, from child’s play to a bit more serious. 


Christmas is a bit of a conundrum isn’t it? All make-believe and magic and how’s a kid to know what’s real and what isn’t? 


Have you ever noticed the prevalence of angels in the Original Story? 


I got to do a bit of storytelling this week with our youth group— 


The angel answered (Zechariah), “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and tell you this good news.” (Luke 1:19) 


In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man named Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. (Luke 1:26-27) 


An angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.” (Matthew 1:20) 


In the same region, shepherds were staying out in the fields and keeping watch at night over their flock. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. (Luke 2:8-9)


Worth noting… nearly every time the angel shows up his first words are “Fear not…” and for good reason. Here again we probably owe a bit of full disclosure to the children. Just saying. 


As the story unfolds these Heavenly Warriors take center stage. Explaining to virgin parents about the Holy Spirit and Immanuel invading a human womb. Overwhelming a motley crew of unsuspecting shepherds. Leading the adoptive father of the Son of God on a wild journey to save the infant’s life. 


Do you believe in angels? I mean really. Do you believe? 


Because there might be a fine line between the fairytales of Christmas and the too-terrifying-to-grasp cosmic non-fiction of what really happened when the God of the universe made His human appearance here on Planet Earth. 


The angels are real and this really matters. There are places in this world where believing in a baby king can still get you killed and saying the name of Jesus is akin to treason. And in these modern-day places holy dreams and visions are invading the stories of regular lives. Just saying. 


Truth matters. 


And the truth is, the parents of Nash and Maisy fear the Real Story and they’re more than willing to forgo fun-and-games in order to elevate the King of Kings. Like good shepherds…


When the angels had left them and returned to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go straight to Bethlehem and see what has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” They hurried off and found both Mary and Joseph, and the baby who was lying in the manger. After seeing them, they reported the message they were told about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary was treasuring up all these things in her heart and meditating on them. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had seen and heard, which were just as they had been told. (Luke 2:15-20) 



True Story. 



2-week-old Lola Leigh

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