Preparing Their Hearts to Give and Receive

There is no time of year more meaningful to me than Christmas. In our home, it’s not just a holiday and it’s not just one day on the calendar. Christmas is a season with its own unique set of feelings, expectations, and traditions. It is beauty and wonder adorned with the steady, underlying thrill of anticipation. From the twinkling lights to family movie nights, Christmas in our home fills me with a sense of peace. Every reminder of Christ’s birth, the purposeful focus on that miraculous babe in the manger, is pure joy.

And then the lists begin.

Whether they’re scraps of paper or carefully lined pages, wish lists litter counter tops and bedroom floors. Starting early November, catalogs filled with toys and electronics find their way from the mailbox to the kitchen, and quick work is made of circling and initialing. Each kid staking claim to their heart’s desire with bright colored ink.

As much as this time of year fills me with contentment, it can also usher in moments of unease. I try not to cringe at their daily conversations peppered with “I WANT THAT,” or “I’M ASKING FOR THIS,”. As a parent doing my very best to inject reverence into our Christmas season, I tend to focus on the old adage “it’s better to give than receive”. I want my children to think of others before themselves. I am quick to prompt them to brainstorm more about what they would like to gift their siblings than constantly tick off the long list of items they’d love to receive themselves. At some point in my many years as a mom, I convinced myself that if they learn this singular lesson, then I’ve officially won at parenting. 

But is this realistic? Giving is a blessing, but so is receiving.

Christmas itself is a reminder of God’s greatest gift given freely to humanity. His gift to us was extraordinary, and as people of faith we have an important role to play in accepting His gift.   We do so with humility, grace, and unbridled joy! We don’t have to downplay the excitement of receiving in order to exalt the act of giving. While it’s important to encourage our kids to have a heart for giving, we must also teach them to graciously receive. From a kind note to a beautifully wrapped present, the act of receiving well is also a blessing. To recognize a gift not just for what the item is, but what it also represents to the person who gave it to us is equally important. Oftentimes we miss the intention because we’re so eager to have our own desires fulfilled.

I’d love to share one way our family practices receiving and accepting gifts with intention during the holiday.

In our home, the process of exchanging gifts on Christmas morning is a long one. We take our time. There is no mass chaos or collective unwrapping. Each gift is given to the recipient by the person who took the time to carefully plan, shop, and wrap it. Without fail, the gift-giver is spilling over with their tales of shopping and choosing just the right toy or book. The excitement is palpable, everyone is engaged, and there is no rush to move on to the next person. I love watching how they take such pride in what they give, but also how truly gracious and touched they are when they receive their gifts. They have learned to recognize and appreciate the efforts of their siblings, because as a family we are intentional about the process. It wasn’t always easy, especially in the younger years, but now it is a very special part of our day.

I pray your families are not only blessed this Christmas season with opportunities to give, but also to joyfully receive the blessings from those who love you.

Merry Christmas,

April