She never did a drug in her life and only drinks a glass of wine with dinner from time to time with her Italian husband. But last night, Jewish mom/singer and songwriter and author, Michelle Gold, saw Santa Claus and his sleigh near Boynton Beach Blvd!!! Her children, in the backseat of our car yelled excitedly, "Daddy Daddy, roll the window down and talk to Santa! So like the loving, thoughtful husband that he is, he did.
Turns out, "Santa" and his family live in a nearby neighborhood & decorate their truck every year. He never gave his real name or location and they weren't offering rides for sale. And in a moment he was gone without a trace.
Up 'till now, her Jewish children have been taught to believe that their Jewish uncle Burt was "Santa." Besides, he dressed up every year to bless the children at the children's museum of Boca and it was cool to have a Jewish Santa!
Really and more importantly, these Jewish kids, unlike so many others, have had the unique privilege to celebrate two holidays & to know and believe in their Jewish Messiah, Yeshua (Jesus in Hebrew). With all seriousness, Michelle explains to her kids every year that though Yeshua was most probably NOT born on December 25th, we will celebrate His birth, His life and His atonement in the most Jewish way we know how. Michelle's family isn't perfect, But they seem to have the best of both worlds having strong Jewish roots, a rich heritage, and the promise and hope of heaven.
"We don't get caught up in legalism and we don't worry about offending people, only pleasing and
loving the Lord and HIs people," Michelle says. We have a Chanukah/Christmas tree and we explain to our children that the lights are reminiscent of the light of the world- Yeshua! The tree reminds us of how He gave His life for us! We just enjoy the holiday in the spirit of love. Everyone needs some "Messiah-mas" spirit." (Messiah is the Hebrew word for Christ)
People often criticize us saying we ought not to have a Christmas tree because of false worship in pre-historic times using trees! But if we went by THAT kind of thought process, we would need to stop using the names of the days of the week since much of our language comes from worship of pagan gods (..ie Sunday- the worship of the sun.).If lemonade had been worshipped on one occassion to the tune of idol worship last year, would you stop drinking it? But it gives me great pleasure that when we look upon the tree, we only remmeber and worship our King!"
Back to the topic of celebrating Christmas in a Jewish way, DID YOU KNOW that so many of the best Christmas songs ever written were written by Jewish composers? The kids had just a few days before seen the movie "SWITCH-MAS" which depicts a little Jewish boy and an almost twin version of him, Christian boy getting mixed up or switched to the wrong family holiday vacation. In the movie, the Christian boy who is cared for by the Jewish family in Florida is the lucky one, getting lots of Chanukah gelt, Latkes, and Love. The Jewish boy in the movie, who begins his trip feeling homesick, gets to go to a Wintery Wisconsin where he eventually experiences the wonder of touching real snow, directing his very own beautiful Christmas musical and meeting a Jewish Santa!
So what do we get out of this magical little Santa sighting story? First, we must consider that Christmas was and is actually a very Jewish holiday because we celebrate a Jewish Savior, born in the Jewish city of Bethlehem and to Jewish parents Miriam and Yoseph. He is the one who sees you while you're sleeping and when you arise and will never leave you nor forsake you, He cares for you. (Psalm 139)
Second, the story of a reminder that though most of us dont really believe in santa, we MUST KEEP OUR CHILDLIKE FAITH ALIVE.
It's not easy to believe in things that you don't yet see but we can learn from the little children who know how to come boldly to Him. So this Christmas season, let us keep our faith and focus on the God of the universe who is busy unfolding a beautiful plan for your life and mine as we love Him and love His people.
And by the way, What does BOYNTON beach resident michelle gold want for chhhhhhhhhristmas? (Said with a gutteral "ch")? Continued Love From her sweet family, God's provision for some much needed home reparis, new hard wood floors would be a treat, friends picking up and being totally blessed by her latest music and book couldnt hurt...and a partridge in a pair tree! haha!
Merry Messiah-mas!!