Prayers for Saint Nicholas

We walked a fine line at our house over Christmas. At all of four years old, Rainey is pretty sure Papa Noel is nothing more than a wonderful work of fiction made up to coerce naughty children to be nice, to create holiday jobs at malls for pudgy men and to boost the countries economy. At three, she had her doubts. At four, she all but told us she didn't believe. However, she is smart enough to know that a proclamation of disbelief could result in a decrease in gifts, so she wisely played along this year.

Now that the season is over, she seems to be on a quest to obtain a confession on the matter from her parents. Again, she is too smart to ask us straight out, but she is hinting around for some clues.

Earlier this week during bedtime prayers she prayed for Old Man Christmas:

God, be with Santa Claus (looking up at her Mother and speaking emphatically) Who we've NEVER seen!

Steph didn't say a word and managed not to laugh.

I don't know why Rainey is doubting. I keep asking her, "If you don't believe in Santa, what's next? Saying there are no fairies or unicorns? I don't know about you, but that's not a world I want to live in."

I think she's beginning to see the logic there.