We don't do Santa. Decided we wouldn't after a heady discussion we listened in on not long after we were married...which is another blog entirely.
Suffice it to say, Santa Claus never comes to our town; instead, we open presents from one another on Christmas Eve and, on Christmas morning, we dig through stockings that Mommy (not Santa) fills followed by the kiddos opening their Jesus presents. Yep, Jesus presents.
We teach them that, since Jesus is the most profound, endearing, and saving gift we'll ever receive, it is most appropriate to associate your best gift with the Giver of all things. We also remind them that, since He's gifted us with life everlasting, why not want to give Him your own best gift: that of your life, your love, and your lifetime of faith?
Each year, we dedicate time as a Mommy & Daddy reflecting on who each of our babies have become over the course of the last year: Have they developed a particular passion? Has a talent or gifting emerged somewhere over the last 12 months? Was there a realization shared, an epiphany come upon, or a new goal determined? Whatever answers we find, therein lies their gifts.
Grace emerged as a new kind of reader in 2010, for example. As the degree of difficulty has risen in material, she's matched her wits and interpretation to it: now we're having great discussions not just about the plot or characters but about what said characters mean when they say, "I never relished risk until I took a step of faith." And oh the reward of such great conversations! Her gift package, then, highlighted her love of reading - and all the ways it's grown.
So you get the idea.
This year, Elijah discovered a true gift...for basketball. He's pretty darn skilled! And he genuinely likes it, a fact we haven't found with other sports he's tried. One November afternoon, I was watching the local news when a commercial came on announcing a one-night showcase of the Harlem Globetrotters was coming to town.
Have wanted to see them live since I was a little girl myself. I immediately called Craig and said, "I think this is the Jesus present!" He readily agreed and instantly began working with his company's concierge to secure a couple of tickets.
And tonight is Harlem Globetrotter night! Elijah and his daddy are paintin' the town with dinner and the HG's. Elijah is excited, yes, but in that way children are when, outside of Mom and Dad's unrestrained delight of explanation and some YouTube videos, they have no independent knowledge of what's going to happen. But I've no doubt he'll come home regaling their antics, firmly planting a memory for a lifetime of a Daddy-Son good time - punctuated by a gift suited perfectly to one thing he "became" in 2010.
Harlem Globetrotters Tricks 2010
Suffice it to say, Santa Claus never comes to our town; instead, we open presents from one another on Christmas Eve and, on Christmas morning, we dig through stockings that Mommy (not Santa) fills followed by the kiddos opening their Jesus presents. Yep, Jesus presents.
We teach them that, since Jesus is the most profound, endearing, and saving gift we'll ever receive, it is most appropriate to associate your best gift with the Giver of all things. We also remind them that, since He's gifted us with life everlasting, why not want to give Him your own best gift: that of your life, your love, and your lifetime of faith?
Each year, we dedicate time as a Mommy & Daddy reflecting on who each of our babies have become over the course of the last year: Have they developed a particular passion? Has a talent or gifting emerged somewhere over the last 12 months? Was there a realization shared, an epiphany come upon, or a new goal determined? Whatever answers we find, therein lies their gifts.
Grace emerged as a new kind of reader in 2010, for example. As the degree of difficulty has risen in material, she's matched her wits and interpretation to it: now we're having great discussions not just about the plot or characters but about what said characters mean when they say, "I never relished risk until I took a step of faith." And oh the reward of such great conversations! Her gift package, then, highlighted her love of reading - and all the ways it's grown.
So you get the idea.
This year, Elijah discovered a true gift...for basketball. He's pretty darn skilled! And he genuinely likes it, a fact we haven't found with other sports he's tried. One November afternoon, I was watching the local news when a commercial came on announcing a one-night showcase of the Harlem Globetrotters was coming to town.
[Aside: LOVE the HG's!]
Have wanted to see them live since I was a little girl myself. I immediately called Craig and said, "I think this is the Jesus present!" He readily agreed and instantly began working with his company's concierge to secure a couple of tickets.
And tonight is Harlem Globetrotter night! Elijah and his daddy are paintin' the town with dinner and the HG's. Elijah is excited, yes, but in that way children are when, outside of Mom and Dad's unrestrained delight of explanation and some YouTube videos, they have no independent knowledge of what's going to happen. But I've no doubt he'll come home regaling their antics, firmly planting a memory for a lifetime of a Daddy-Son good time - punctuated by a gift suited perfectly to one thing he "became" in 2010.
Now that's a Jesus present.
Just like him.
Just like him.
Harlem Globetrotters Tricks 2010
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDelete