2010!!!! Christmas this year has had more meaning than ever for our children, and probably for us too! Since I have been home schooling, I asked the children, "If Jesus were here in the flesh, what do you think would be the greatest gift that we could give Him or that He would want to receive?" "Would it be gold, toys, food?" And, the kids thought, and thought... Then, we examined His life. He gave in His actions, His hands, His hands and ultimately His life was given away with LOVE and for LOVE! Wow! What a great example!
So, we came up with "25 DAYS OF GIVING!" For the month of December leading up the Jesus' Birthday, we have tried to 'give' to others each day. This has really grown our kids hearts for giving.
1. Daisy (give her a toy/card, pray for her)
2. Friends without homes (backbacks with necessities)
3. Salvation Army (gifts for kids, get tags off trees)
4. Card for Chrystal's father who has cancer
5. Grandmas and Grandpas-cookies and card
6. Bunnies-veggies
7. Teachers-cakes
8. Pastors gifts
9. Random acts-flowers delivered to random homes
10. A Rocha
11. Picking up trash in neighborhood
12. Neighbors-treats
13. Unity Shoppe-help out
14. Westmont-canned food for friends without homes
15. Grandma-Christmas card
16. Nana-chocolate
17. Daddy- make gift
18. Grandpa-jelly bellies, make gift
19. Papa-make gift
20. Riley and Mrs. Courtney-card
21. Awana-cookies
22. Music teacher-treats
23. Fire Fighters-treats
24. Christmas cards to friends
25. Teachers-homemade gifts
Let me just tell you, we were busy little bee's. While we hit a lot of these 'gifts,' we didn't hit them all, and that's okay. It wasn't intended to be a stressful activity but one that taught our children the true gift of the season...To Give As Christ Gave!
The true gift this season is JESUS! He is the greatest gift ever given and His gift to us is unending forgiveness, grace and His kingdom everlasting. We give to others because He first gave to us and it is a way to spread His love. What an honor and a privilege to be His hands to the needy, poor and suffering. It IS better to give than to receive.
This act of serving others, I believe, is among one of the greatest gifts we can give our children. This year our boys are 7 and our daughter is 5...the perfect teach-able age. We didn't want to miss this opportunity to plant seeds of giving!
The joy on their faces, seeing others filled with so much joy from their giving was the greatest Christmas gift for me. It was simple, it was pure and it wasn't about them!!! It was about Him!
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