How to Teach Your Child the Joy of Giving

The Inspiration for The Santa Club

The inspiration for The Santa Club came from a family tradition started by my mother-in-law one Christmas Eve, when my son Jonathan asked the dreaded question. What she did, in answering the question was so amazing -- I stood there with my mouth open.

She asked Jonathan, “Are you sure you want to know?”

He looked at her with such excitement, “Yes Grandma, I want to know…the truth.”

And that is exactly what she told him. “Yes, Jonathan,” she said. “There is a Santa.” She went on to tell him about the first Santa, St. Nicholas of Myra, and how he started a very special secret club known as The Santa Club.

That night Jonathan stayed up and helped me with all of his younger brother Jameson’s presents. He went to bed very proud that he now was a member of The Santa Club.

St. Nicholas and Giving in Secret

Many of our most beloved Christmas traditions revolve around giving in secret.

I like the idea of giving in secret.

It places emphasis on the Christian virtues of generosity, charity and love, rather than on recognition, ostentation and one-up-manship.

St. Nicholas – the model for Santa Claus – was the original secret giver.

St. Nicholas was the real Bishop of Patara, in what is now Turkey, during the third century AD.

During his most famous exploit, the saint dropped 3 bags of gold coins down a poor man’s chimney, so he could afford his daughter’s dowry without the humiliation of having to beg for money.

(Supposedly, one of the bags landed in the daughter’s sock that was drying over the embers in the fireplace, which is why we hang stockings today!)