Lately, since it's holiday frenzy time, I have been seeing lots of posts of Facebook about my friends stressing out that they can't find this gift for this person, or that they are worried if this person has enough gifts, etc. It drives me insane that people are taking Christ out of Christmas and replacing it with X-Box, Legos, and Barbie's.
Let me remind you that Jesus got THREE gifts, Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh. Just three gifts and he is JESUS, the King of Kings! I am sorry to be the one to tell you this, but your child is not better than Jesus and does not deserve anything better than him.
My (future) children will only get three gifts from me and my (future) husband. No one will say they are deprived because they will absolutely not be just because they don't get every single thing on their wish list. Besides that, they will get a mountain of other toys from your other family members. Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, Grandparents, etc are all going to get little Suzy and Timmy something. Don't stress, it's not what the holidays are about.
My friend said that she knows a woman that gets her children three gifts one educational, one spiritual, and one fun gift. I love that idea! Maybe I will adopt that idea too.
So, this year remember the reason for the season is JESUS.
I agree, wholeheartedly! I saw your friend commented about the spiritual, fun and educational gift, too, and thought that was a really neat idea! So glad I'm hearing this idea NOW before we have our little one. I think it'd also be a good idea to have our child choose 3 gently used gifts each year to donate to a child in need, so that they could learn giving and goodwill.
ReplyDeleteOne year, when my family was down and out, my very young mother was afraid that she would not be able to get me any gifts for Christmas. They went to the church and someone had donated a gently used, over-sized, stuffed Papa Smurf. Mom said she cried when I celebrated that gift like it was the greatest thing I'd ever received! Of all the gifts I received over the years, that is one I cherish and have held onto, because the story behind it is so humbling.
I swear if my kids every complain that they didn't get enough for Christmas, I will load up EVERY GIFT they got that year and we'll donate it to someone who really appreciates it! They'll never forget THAT lesson...
I like your donating three gifts idea too. That is a sweet story about Papa Smurf. :)
DeleteI think parents sometimes think they have to get their kids the latest and greatest to 'be cool' but really it's just to keep up with the Jones'. Kids under 8 don't remember what you got them or even if it's new or not. Kids really should appreciate things more. Scratch that, we ALL need to appreciate things more.