Values-Driven

It’s been a busy week, in some ways. In other ways, it has been relaxing. Marc kind of unexpectedly decided to take a vacation this week, which was nice. I went out with “only” two of the little ones on Monday to do grocery shopping and then Christmas shopping for the girls (since I so rarely get out without all the kids in tow!). Then Marc went out on Tuesday to shop for the boys.

We both had so much fun thinking about what would bless each of the children that we were anxious to give our gifts…so we called “Christmas in November” and opened presents on Wednesday! The children were thrilled and truly enjoyed their gifts. In fact, they still are…as I blog. And although they are normally very thankful, anyway, I was extra blessed this morning to wake up to two thank you notes (from the older boys) telling Mom and Dad “thank you for the blessing.”

That got me thinking about Christmas in general, and why having an early Christmas was actually a really good thing, at least for us. I don’t care how well-behaved and well-mannered your children are–come holiday time, with all the gift-opening, travel, indulgence, and out-of-routine days, they probably don’t respond as you’d like them to. They might start off with a thankful spirit and a God-ward focus (as it should be when we are celebrating Christ’s birth) BUT it’s easy to get caught up in “other” things and lose that attitude of praise amidst the excitement of gift, after gift, after gift. (Particularly if, like us, you have divorces in the family and have to have, like, a half-dozen “Christmases.”) You can almost see their eyes begin to glaze over and pretty soon you’re prodding them to “tell so-and-so thank you for the present,” which you really wish you didn’t have to do…but it’s just “too much!” Or are we only parents to experience this?!

So it was nice to do gift-giving early, to remind the children of how we really wanted to bless them with special things that they don’t normally recieve. To remind them that “every good and perfect gift is from above,” and that first and foremost, we should be thankful to God for all that He has given us. The opening of gifts was less pressured, less crazy, and more others-oriented. The children enjoyed watching each other open gifts, were patient about letting each other assemble and/or enjoy the gifts (even if they hadn’t yet gotten to open theirs), and truly had a spirit of Thanksgiving. Isn’t that what it’s all about? And does it matter “when” you do it?

Our children are blessings to us from the Lord. It was nice to be able to bless them with some of “the desires of their hearts.”

“‘Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!‘” (Matthew 7:9-11).