“And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts: gold and frankincense and myrrh,” Matthew 2:11
All over this land, we Pentecostal parents will watch our children enact the above scene in our Christmas programs.. Touched but not changed; we will then follow the crowd to department stores to charge items for which we do not have the cash, for expensive gifts our children do not need.
Christmas morning, we proudly look at all the beautiful packages and anticipate the warm feelings of thanks we will receive as our children open their presents. We have once again proven our love by the price of the toys.
Something strange then happens. The children grab for the packages with their names – most of them already know what they are getting, for we asked them earlier what they wanted. They rip off the beautiful gift wrap, glance at the present, give us the expected hug – put it quickly with their growing pile of loot and return expectantly waiting for their next present.
Where is the surprise? Where is the joy?
A few minutes later they will ignore their spoils to play with the empty boxes and torn paper. We, in turn, are left with an empty feeling. Something is not quite right about what we have just experienced. All the spending, all the planning, all the expectation, and then -so quickly over. We somehow are left with the feeling that our children do not really appreciate our sacrifice. We are right.
What have we taught them through all this?
As they take these new gifts to their room which already looks like Toys-R-Us, we are teaching them the lesson that Christmas is for getting things. We are teaching them they can get what they want, not by struggle nor by sacrifice, but rather by manipulating parents and adults.
Let us, rather, give our children a gift they will never forget. Let us give them a gift of ourselves and of our time – not a gift of things. How can we do this?
- By simplifying Christmas and by taking the expense and stress out of this very special family day.
- By doing something unexpected – like playing in the snow.
- By giving a gift made with our own hands.
- By inviting in someone who is lonely to share our bounty.
- By visiting a “shut in” together.
- By giving them a certificate for breakfast out with us – alone.
- By loving their Mother.
- By going to church together to worship Jesus – on this His birthday
You might also like these articles...
Discipline and Provoking Your Child To Anger
“And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4). “Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged” (Colossians 3:21). Children and Teens will usually accept discipline without anger if they know the rules, know the consequences, and know…
A Case For Christian Schools
“Whom shall he teach knowledge? And whom shall he make to understand doctrine? Them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little” (Isaiah 28:9-10). Question: “After spending thirty years in…
Somebody Needs to Say "I’m Sorry!"
“And the king said, Let him turn to his own house, and let him not see my face…. So Absalom dwelt two full years in Jerusalem, and saw not the kings face.” II Samuel 14: 24,28 I have heard it said, “Bitterness is like drinking poison –and hoping the other party drops dead” -no, you…