Mom, just tell me the truth.

OUCH......I hate when conversations start like that. As a parent, I am as honest and frank as I can be with my kids. Of course, this pertains to Abbi, as Amelia is way too young to even care. But with Abbi, it's a whole different story. Some of you know about my somewhat recent discussions with Abbi about the existence of Santa. You see, many of her friends no longer believe in the Jolly Man, and have teased her endlessly about still believing. I've tried to say, "Abbi, it doesn't matter what the other kids think; what you believe is YOUR business, and no one can tell you what to believe/not believe." My intentions were simple: to buy Doug and I some time to figure out how to handle such a delicate issue. I could have said that I was building confidence and self-esteem......that might have been a possible outcome, but frankly, I would be stretching the truth.Up to this point, our plan was working (or should I say the band aid was sticking pretty well.) Until today.
As we are riding home from church, Abbi pops out, "Mom.......is Santa real?" ---just like that! Out of the BLUE! I collect myself and ask her, "What do you believe?" She then busts into this huge conversation about how her friends think she is crazy for believing in Santa, The Easter Bunny and The Tooth Fairy----and told her that it was US doing all of it. (How rude is that?) 
You see, I think in the back of my head, my greatest worry was that if she found out about Santa and all of the others, that she would start to question as to whether God was real. And although I am a Christian, I was nervous about answering that......even though I believe with all of my heart that Christ is my Savior! God obviously knew that I need the words to say(of course he did), because my pastor's sermon was all about God: The Miracle Worker!  Pastor Paul went on about all 47 miracles that Jesus performed, and how each one is documented in the Bible------PROOF that they happened, and therefore proof that God is REAL. Pastor Paul also discussed other religions, and how they attempt to say their way/belief system is the only way.  Pastor Paul put it simply: "God is the only way, and the proof is on the 47 miracles he performed, that are documented in the Bible. And I'm following the guy who is doing the miracles!!! --and He's still doing them today." I love it!
Needless to say, Abbi now knows that there isn't a Santa, or an Easter Bunny, or a Tooth Fairy. We actually Googled the History and Santa, and the History of the Easter Bunny and discussed at great length the many traditions that other families/cultures follow. But with Christmas and Easter, it's so much more about Jesus, our Savior. Abbi never questioned me about the existence of God. I guess my worry was for nothing.