I am going to just throw this out there; I don’t see anything wrong with buying your children a lot of gifts. Christmas may not be about gifts but we all know gifts help make the season bright. If we didn’t believe that we wouldn’t give to Toys for Tots, Operation Homefront, or go into an insane amount of debt every year. Like it or not, gifts are here to stay and I do not feel that is negative. Who doesn’t like to unwrap a gift? Who doesn’t like to see their children’s eyes light up when they open that perfect gift? I know I do. Despite what you have heard, this will not cause your child to be a self absorbed adult with a sense of entitlement.
Selfishness is cultivated all year long not through one day of gifts. The spirit of getting is a force to be reckoned with but it loses power when gratitude is cultivated in its place throughout the year. The spirit of Christmas is not confined to Christmas but is given the opportunity to manifest itself brightly during this season. Giving gifts is one expression of love and it teaches children to share the love when they are also loved.
Now, before you think I have taken puff of wacky Christmas weed, let me explain. A child will not learn the joy of giving by getting a load of gifts we go into debt to buy. I do not advocate buying anything you cannot afford. I also do not believe gifts have to be expensive to be appreciated nor do I believe a child must receive numerous gifts. I am simply saying that if you can afford to buy your child five or ten gifts and that is what you want to do then do it. That alone does not diminish the true meaning of Christmas. We can bless our children with gifts while teaching them that giving brings joy. Cutting down on gifts for your children will not teach them to give more. You need to teach and demonstrate giving all year long.
Putting the heart of giving back into Christmas while allowing for gifts and sugar plums can be achieved in many ways. Here are a few and I challenge you to come up with some to implement in your home.
- Have your child pick out gifts for a needy child.
- If you normally give your child five gifts then ask your child if she would be willing to receive four gifts and pick out a gift for another child in need.
- Show your child throughout the year that you give to friends and those in need. Let them see it as part of being who you are and they will gravitate toward it.
- Instead of an advent calendar that gives candy every day or does a craft, incorporate giving every day. For instance, you can have your child help you with dinner, help bake cookies for a neighbor, or make a card for grandma.
- Show gratitude in all things and your child will learn to walk in gratitude.
- Pay your child to do chores during the season so they can use the money to buy a gift for a child or family in need.
With an attitude changed from complaining and entitlement to gratitude from every member of the family; the spirit of getting will be overtaken by a gentle spirit that wishes to spread the joy of giving.
A
Wikipedia: A is the first letter and vowel in the ISO basic Latin alphabet. →