Elf on the Shelf…dilemma?

I hate the elf on the shelf… or at least I did.

My wife and I didn’t want to add one more thing to our already long list of holiday traditions. We both mutually decided, no elf.

We were going to resist the urge to participate in the “fad”. We already do the polar express, Santa, a chocolate ribbon calendar of Hershey kisses’, etc. One more thing would just be too much.

And then, it happened…

Chippy, the elf on the shelf, came home from school. I wanted to rip the stuffing out of him, but my son was overwhelmed with excitement. Our local PTA decided to give every child and elf on the shelf for Christmas. I think that idea spawned from Satan, not Santa.

But after spending two years, and two Christmas seasons, with Chippy, I have decided that he is not a bad guy, err elf, after all.

Even though sometimes I forget to assist the little elf in his nightly journey, I enjoy playing my part to make Christmas a special time for my three children.

I love the daily experience of my children running around yelling, “Chippy! Chippy!”.

The hunt for Chippy is always new and exciting for them every morning. It is even exciting to see my one and a half year old search for the elf.

Chippy flys paper airplanes to new locations, he zip lines, he carries letters back and forth from Santa, and he brings presents. He truly is the Christmas season Swiss army elf.

My wife and I finally chose to embrace this little red-and-green demon and our holiday season has been enriched.

Christmas is a time of sharing time together focusing on loving each other further into relationship with each other and Christ. And although Chippy is not directly involved in the process, he does help provide lots of enjoyment and conversation with our children, which often leads to talking about Christ. For that we are grateful.

Merry Christmas to everyone… you too Chippy!