When I think of teaching my two sons about what Christmas is truly all about, I start to shake in my boots! (Cute, brown, leather five-inchers from Nordstrom would be preferable!)
Me and kids and Christmas? AND I have to teach something?? You must be kidding.
Teaching children is not one of my gifts. Craftiness is not my forte. And baking is definitely not something I would consider a talent of mine. Sounds like I’m missing some important parts of all things Christmas and kids!!!
Although, if I don’t teach my children about the special gift given to the world on Christmas – who will? Sure, the world will teach them about Santa, presents and the North Pole, but what about the Virgin birth, the baby Jesus and the heavenly host of angels singing praise to God?
Where will my kids hear the story of the birth of Jesus and be shown the awesome gifts God has given to every one of us even though we don’t deserve them?
Okay, I guess I have to pull up my big girl panties and figure this one out!!
I started thinking back…way back to my own childhood. How did this mish-mash of the “holiday’s” and “Santa” go together with the meaning of “Christ in Christmas”? I have such fond memories from my own childhood of painting ceramics with my family, making homemade ornaments, and baking cookies from scratch during Christmas vacation. Well, maybe I just watched. But that counts, right?
Bottom line: My parents trained me well. Santa was fun, but Jesus was the main focus. They taught me by example to give of myself during the Christmas season by using my talents and gifts for the joy of others. They showed me that miracle of Christmas is not just during the month of December.
Please God, help me teach my own children about You and Your wondrous gifts!!!
Never fear! When you ask, God will provide!!! Especially when it’s about furthering His peace and mercy on earth! Thank you, God! I don’t have to re-invent the wheel to teach my boys about the true meaning of Christmas! I can use ideas from others!!!
Case in point: I recently received an email from Jake’s first grade teacher about the Kindness Countdown. Her plan is to have each child in the class do a random act of kindness every day until winter break. They are writing these actions down and making a kindness chain that hangs in their classroom.
The purpose is to make ‘being kind to others’ a habit and a natural extension of each child’s life. What a novel concept and an appropriate lesson at Christmas!
Five Gifts of Kindness that Don’t Cost a Penny:
Smiles
Hugs
Kind words of encouragement
Opening doors for others
Singing Christmas carols
Now, this is what Christmas is all about!!!! Love, compassion, mercy and kindness!!!! It’s a great start to sharing the reason Jesus was born in the first place!
This might not be as hard as I once thought. How are you teaching your child about Christmas? Let me know, I love sharing new ideas!
Some Wisdom for Today: Proverbs 22:6 – Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.
コメント