I'm sitting on my couch in my livingroom surrounded by gifts for my kids. Some are gifts they received at my parent's house tonight for our family Christmas, others are gifts they bought for each other at our elementary school's Santa Store, most are the gifts Santa has delivered and carefully purchased, sorted, stacked awaiting the girls entrance on Christmas morning. While I sit here, I am hoping I have enough for the girls to feel like they have truly had a good Christmas. You see, being a stay at home mom, we have a tight budget at Christmas time. Especially with 3 girls to buy for. I've seen posts tonight of gifts other kids that are the same age as my girls have received and it makes me worry. I mean, my kids will think they've done really well on Christmas morning when they are tearing through their stack of gifts and pulling out the stocking stuffers. However, a week from Monday, they will go back to school. While there, they will compare what they received with their friends. Typing it out it all sounds petty and stupid, but I have to admit, it almost brings me to tears some moments. How does a doll house, strawberry shortcake playsets, Lala Loopsy Doll, etc. compare to a new cell phone, an ipad 2, a laptop. I'm not saying there is anything wrong with these gifts, it just really raises the bar for me and I can't compete. But it's not a competition right? UGH!
Anyway, then my eyes were drawn to a post I made on facebook yesterday while baking for my neighbors gifts. I was listening to a Christmas CD (Mercy Me The Christmas Sessions) and the song Gloria came on. There is a line in this song that really struck me, and as I read it again just a bit ago, it stirred my heart again. "How could heaven's heart no break, on the day, the day that you came? Salvation's reason to celebrate, on the day that you came. Gloria, in excelsis deo."..How quickly our attitudes change from thankfulness for the birth of a Savior, to the worldliness of my kids having enough things. God gave THE GREATEST gift, knowing Jesus would have to die an excruciating death so we could all live eternally yet I sit on my couch worrying if I've given my kids enough...
I know there will be questions, I know some jealousy will arise from all of the comparisons that will be made, but these are teaching moments. Moments to help my children realize this celebration of Christmas is not about receiving physical gifts, but the gifts God blesses us with daily and the most precious gift of His SON! How ashamed I am for allowing myself to be drawn in to the drama. I am thankful for the gifts we are giving. I now welcome the opportunity to teach my children what God wants them to know, his gift of love that is EVERLASTING!
That said, I wish anyone that may read these words a VERY Merry Christmas and may 2012 be a remarkable year in which to glorify God in every aspect of our lives! :)
Nice post, Kim. I know how you feel. But, your kids won't likely remember what you and Todd gave them for Christmas this year when they are grown, but they will remember your love and devotion to them growing up in a Godly home. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
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