photo by reb
It can be easy to get so caught up in the hustle and bustle of Christmas that we miss the joy and hope that this season is supposed to bring. The stress of getting the right gift for our husband or figuring out how we are going to afford another game system with all the accessories or worrying about what size sweater Uncle Buck wears can overwhelm us. Before we know it, the joy of Christmas can be a distant memory. If that is how you are feeling right now, stop. Realize what Christmas is really about. Realize it’s about God giving His son to us because he loves us and we celebrate that by giving gifts to those we love. It’s not about getting the biggest, most spectacular gift. It’s not about who has the most gifts. It’s about the love behind the gift.
In our house, we try to play down the gifts. But, that is so hard with an 8 year old and a 4 year old!! We give the kids 3 gifts each. (It was good enough for Jesus!) They are fine with that. In fact, just today, my 8 year old said “We get three gifts on Christmas! That is so awesome!” That made me smile. We, also, try to participate in some other activities that focus on the giving and the love behind that gift. Here are some ideas your family might want to try.
- Have a cookie bake. Invite some friends over each armed with a recipe or two and start baking. It can be a wonderful time to build relationships and traditions. Divide the cookies up at the end of the day and each family can take home a load of cookies or deliver them to friends and neighbors as a Christmas surprise. Maybe sing a carol or two!
- Samaritans Purse’s Gifts of Love. Do we really need any more gifts? Most of us probably don’t need anything. However, there are people in this world who just need their basic needs met. The Gifts of Love catalog allows you to purchase gifts to meet the needs of people you will never meet, but will be so grateful. You can purchase livestock or clean water or medicines for people who have no current access. Count your blessings and give back.
- Operation Christmas Child. For years, this project has kicked off our Christmas season. We fill a shoebox full of goodies and Operation Christmas Child sends it, along with millions of other boxes, to needy children all over the world. What a great way for kids to experience the joy of giving to others!
- Ring a bell. My daughter loves ringing the Salvation Army bell at the local Kroger store with her children’s church group. They all bundle up and sing carols to the shoppers. Before they go, they talk about what great things are done with the money they collect. The kids get really excited and feel so good when they hear how much they collected. This would be a great family project, too.
- Visit shut-ins, widows and nursing homes. Each December, the young girls in our church spend an afternoon visiting widows from our congregation. They go in groups of 3 or 4 and take a plate of cookies or other treats. The girls sometimes sing carols or just visit with the ladies. It is a huge blessing for the widows and the girls.
There are lots of other giving projects, I’m sure. Do you have any other traditions that focus on others?
How does your family handle Christmas giving? Is Christmas all about the gifts or all about the giving in your household? Would you change it, either way?
