Last year when we told them Christmas would be different, and we would make it about Christ, focusing on giving to those in need, and that the money we would have used to buy them a myriad of gifts under the tree, would be used to give to the least of these, and they felt it as loss.
We told them they would still get stocking stuffers, and we weren’t sure how it would all work. I struggled with it that day. I wondered if we made the right decision. You can read about that here. With the air of the disappointment so thick it could be cut with a knife, I went up the stairs to take a moment alone, and I cried out to Him. I took Him at His Word. “You promised it’s more blessed to give than receive, so please show us.”
And He did. Our day yesterday, was filled with more joy and thankfulness than I can ever remember Christmas holding. The children told me so. The season was slow, not stressful. The dialogue about Christmas was different. It wasn’t filled with “I want’s” and “can I have’s” that were so exhausting last year.
A few times there was talk of disappointment and sadness, as the kids heard their friends tell about all they would be getting for Christmas. But they handled it with grace. God gave us grace. Somehow our less became so much more.
This CHRISTmas, we purpose to make it for Christ. In giving to others, we give to Him. We didn’t know where we would give, but we beleived He would lead us. And He did. He took me, the mama, to Guatemala to hold babies who needed hope of new life. Could He make it any clearer which of the least of these we were to give to? There is still more we could do.
Here are a few things we did different, and what it did to help.
1. Throughout the year, we celebrated each of our birthdays as week or weekend long celebrations, with dinners, and outings and gifts, honoring the birth and life of each. So when it came to Christmas, it would be about Jesus’ birthday.
This helped us all, including the children, focus on Jesus and giving to others for this season.
2. We gave to The Jesus Jar throughout the year, and bought Gifts of Hope from the catalog with the money. Huge success!
This helped us keep the reason for CHRISTmas, and giving on our hearts throughout the year.
3. We attempted our very first keeping of the Advent calendar, and we got through 15 days of devotions and that’s 14 days more than any other year. And that’s ok. Grace.
4. We drew names between all of us, including grandma. We set a spending limit, although we all spent a little extra, Grandma especially. Grandmas can’t help it, I think. The kids had to use their own money to buy the gifts, and make it special. The giving became much more heart-felt. My boy, who chose my name, said my gift would be him giving to my babies for the rescue. It was wonderful, meaningful success.
This help raise the gratitude meter. We heard more thank you’s, throughout the day, than I ever remember.
3. They all got a stocking filled with small gifts — a few trinkets and mostly useful, practical gifts. And we surprised the kids with a scavenger hunt to find the stocking stuffer gifts in the morning. We all loved it!
I learned a lot this year. Though, our different CHRISTmas was far from perfect, we made some strides toward change. I can tell the change is real. We are looking forward to next Christmas with greater joy. I know it by how the kids are talking about it. To me that is real proof.
I don’t know how to raise world changers, exactly.
But if I want to raise a world changer,