Charles,

Hi - this is Corey Anne.  It's been a long while since I have posted, but I was just reading through some old posts as I had some time to catch up.  I read your post from December 14th, and I had to write.

Last year, for the first time, we celebrated Hanukkah in our house instead of Christmas.  I had to do it.  The Lord had revealed the same thing to me about Satan Clause and the tree and the pagan traditions.  

My husband was not as furious as your wife, but he kept away for the most part in another room as we lit the candles and played games and prayed each night.  This year he actually sat with us as we prayed and lit the candles and then left the room.  But he still made comments about Christmas and Santa, and the kids looked at him with sadness.  You are doing the right thing.  You are 100% accountable for leading your son in the right direction.  I am so impressed with your courage.  Perhaps you can have quiet conversations with him as not to rattle your wife's cage.  But I don't know how you will deal with the tree in your house.  All I know to do is to pray for the Lord to understand this is not your doing.

I have not shared my feelings with anyone else in my family, but my husband decided to tell my mother-in-law over the phone yesterday.  I believe he did it just to be shocking.  This probably lit up the phone lines, because she thought it was very strange.  The problem was he didn't explain why.  I don't think he really understands enough to explain it to anyone.  Needless to say, she and the rest of his family will be here next Saturday, so perhaps you can pray for me as the battle will no doubt begin.

Just know you are not alone.  We, I believe, are few and far between.  But one thing that the Lord keeps bringing to mind is if Christmas (which is not celebrated in the Bible) were such a holy-day, why do all the extremely pagan people I know celebrate it so lavishly?  

In His honor,

Corey Anne