We are rapidly approaching Christmas and the whole world is excited. They want to buy presents, get presents, set up the tree. I must admit to never being a crazy Christmas person. I enjoy setting up the tree because it's pretty and it's a tradition and I enjoy the Christmas story and some of the carols being sung. But I struggle with the commercialism that surrounds Christmas have become a little cynical when I see Christmas decorations in shopping centres as early as September. I grew up, thankfully, never believing in Santa or any of the other untrue things relating to Christmas. The question has to be asked, what kind of Christmas do I want Rascal and her little brother or sister to believe in?
I know I want them to have truth but have fun with it, like I did as a kid. As a Christian, I want them to understand the true meaning of Christmas, even if it isn't at the right time, and focus on giving, not receiving. I recently saw on Facebook an excellent idea for Christmas treasure hunt to find Baby Jesus. I think that is a beautiful thing to do with little kids. It somehow needs to be not about how much the kids can get at Christmas, but how much they can give and what they can be thankful for.
Lots of people call me a grinch for ignoring Santa and all his traditions, but I don't believe in lying to children about things like that. I believe you can have a lovely Christmas with giving and receiving gifts and being reminded of the ultimate gift that God gave to us in the form of Jesus, His Son. I don't think it all has to be about spending loads of money, which, quite frankly, I don't have, and dressing up in red suits.
Lots of people call me a grinch for ignoring Santa and all his traditions, but I don't believe in lying to children about things like that. I believe you can have a lovely Christmas with giving and receiving gifts and being reminded of the ultimate gift that God gave to us in the form of Jesus, His Son. I don't think it all has to be about spending loads of money, which, quite frankly, I don't have, and dressing up in red suits.
I have also heard a fantastic idea for older children where they focus on making a gift box for someone specific. They make cookies, cards and other lovely things in the gift box in the weeks before Christmas and deliver it on Christmas morning. It might be for a lonely person, or a struggling person or family. Or it might be a hidden present where you put it on the doorstep and run away. I can't wait to try some of these things as the kids grow up.
I hope that, somehow, my husband and I can instil in our kids some of the core values of life through our celebration of Christmas. It can be a time of giving, sharing and family without being about what we want and whether or not we got it. I hope to be able to post many a story of successful Christmas activities in the years to come.
Libby :)
I hope that, somehow, my husband and I can instil in our kids some of the core values of life through our celebration of Christmas. It can be a time of giving, sharing and family without being about what we want and whether or not we got it. I hope to be able to post many a story of successful Christmas activities in the years to come.
Libby :)
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