Welcome to the 25 Days of Simple Christmas! Each day I will be posting an idea about keeping the holidays simple- so that we can focus on Christ and the real meaning of Christmas!
While Christmas is such a special day, so much of the joy gets lost in the busyness.
Each day I will be writing about a simple way to celebrate the season. To focus on family, joy, and memories, without the elaborate extras that can bring added stress. Simple can be more meaningful if it gives us more time to focus on the huge GIFT we are awaiting-Jesus Christ, our Savior.
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Today’s topic is GIFTS.
As most of us know Christmas has become a huge consumer holiday. Much to the dismay of many Christians, many see the gifts as the main reason of the holiday. We have struggled with this issue over the years, but have come to terms with a way to keep the materialism at bay, but not sacrificing the fun and excitement of gifts. After all we are celebrating one of the most important days for all of mankind.
When God gave His greatest gift to the earth.
There is reason to celebrate and to make this day so special and memorable. And that can include gifts!
In order to find a balance between greed and wanting to shower our kids with gifts, we have come up with a way that has worked for us for the past several years. Each child gets three gifts, just as Jesus did.
Now to some it may seem like very much, but those three gifts are special. Besides between four kids that’s already twelve gifts!
We have noticed that when there are alot of gifts, they get opened really fast and the excitement is all about “what’s next?” With this way, each child takes turns opening one gift. And that one is enjoyed, the process is slowed down, and savored.
Yet, there is more. We give them lots of stocking stuffers. These consist of a few just fun trinkets, some things needed {the dreaded, but expected socks!}, lots of consumable treats I rarely buy during the year such as gummy snacks, candy, special snacks, etc. Sometimes I put a small gift card to a restaurant or game store. I usually add books, art supplies, etc. There’s always lots of fun stuff in the stockings, and it never all fits into the stocking! I think the kids love the stocking stuffers most of all.
Then we get to go to Grandma’s house where the fun is just extended! Lots more gifts from the grandparents and cousins. By the time Christmas is over, they have received LOTS.
But the three gifts is really a way to make sure we are not just getting things, just to get them…they mean something. They are appreciated.
Then they opened their treasures and presented Him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh. Luke 2:11
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their 25 Days of Christmas Series:
25 Days of Christmas: Home for the Holidays @ Graceful Abandon
25 Days of Easy Christmas Crafts for Toddlers & Preschoolers @ Sidetracked Sarah
25 Days of Christmas Traditions @ Sharing the Journey
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