Lately, I’ve found myself pondering the figure of Jesus, which might seem a bit odd, considering my Jewish background. However, with my husband being Catholic, Jesus has started to play a more prominent role in our family discussions—especially during this festive season. My 5-year-old daughter, Lily, has begun to ask deeper questions about God, Heaven, and her own identity. With Christmas approaching, inquiries about Jesus are inevitable.
It’s clear that Lily is a bit muddled when it comes to religion. I realized just how mixed up she was during a recent conversation:
Lily: So, you know that guy who saved the world? Umm…God?
Me: Yes?
Lily: Well, why did Santa—I mean God—put Disney World in Florida? And why can’t Santa—I mean God—make the whole world Florida?
Where do I even begin? It’s evident we’ve neglected her religious education. To be honest, we’ve been steering clear of the topic. Neither my husband nor I are overtly religious, and we’ve opted to delay this conversation for another time. Some aspects of faith have been relatively straightforward to explain. For example, we introduced her to Moses through Disney’s The Prince of Egypt, complete with popcorn. She seemed to grasp it, aside from the heavier themes like slavery and the “smiting of the firstborn.” Who can blame her for finding those a bit much?
But Jesus is a different ballgame. This will be the first time we have to clarify that Mommy and Daddy hold different beliefs, and that neither of us is necessarily wrong. My initial plan was to present both religions and let her decide what she believes. However, asking a 5-year-old to form an opinion on messianic figures seems a bit unrealistic.
Right now, Lily is in a “Mommy phase,” so she’ll likely lean toward my perspective. Old Testament: 1, New Testament: 0. But I can already envision her rebellious teenage years when she might surprise me by joining groups like Jews for Jesus or, even more shockingly, declaring that she hates gefilte fish. For the moment, though, we need to introduce the concepts of God and Christianity gradually and simply. After all, at its core, Christmas is really just a big birthday celebration. And what kid doesn’t love a birthday party—especially one filled with presents?
As we navigate the complexities of Judeo-Christian beliefs, I hope Lily doesn’t feel overwhelmed by our ambiguous answers. She’ll come to understand that some questions remain unanswered, just like how she accepts that soda isn’t great for her, despite my own Diet Dr. Pepper habit. As insightful as she is, she’s still just five. So, no matter how well we explain the significance of Christmas, it will primarily register as “Lily and Elsa Gift Day” in her mind.
As long as she doesn’t expect Jesus to turn the world into a massive Orlando theme park, I think we’re on the right track—for now.
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In summary, explaining Christmas to a child with a mixed religious background is a unique challenge, requiring simplicity and gradual introduction to complex concepts. Ultimately, it’s about creating a loving environment where curiosity can flourish without overwhelming confusion.
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