And so, because of that...it's my belief that Christmas is a dangerous time for the hearts of your children. Proverbs 4:23 instructs us to "guard our hearts, because they are the wellspring of life." What are you doing over the next few days to protect the hearts of your children from the greed-inducing, selfishness-producing, and materialism-enhancing holiday season.
Here are just a couple of thoughts off the top of my head...
- Reward and acknowledge generosity and selflessness in your home
- Ask the children about what they're giving for Christmas as much as you ask them about what they want for Christmas
- Give them change/money to give to the bell-ringers outside of stores and then explain where that money goes
- Clean out their rooms of "old" toys in preparation for the new ones and give it to worthy organization/charity
Robert you are so right - Christmas can actually bring out the worst in all of us, child and adult alike, if we don't guard our hearts and spirits against the greed, selfishness and irritabilities that the enemy sends to attack us during what should be only a loving, holy time of year. Yesterday, however, I was blessed to witness children serving other, less fortunate, children with complete selflessness and loving spirits as they handed out gifts to homeless children at S.O.U.L. church in downtown Dallas. Several of those children were from Firewheel and it made me so grateful to be a part of it. So one way to make your kids aware of the true meaning of Christmas is to give them the opportunity to serve someone less fortunate then themselves. Children are so astute - they will get it long before come of us adults do :) Bless you for your work!
ReplyDeleteok I shouldn't try to type so early in the morning :) it's "...less fortunate THAN themselves." and "...before SOME of us adults do."
ReplyDeleteI need more coffee ...
That's awesome, Nakina...It's been great to hear about how the ministry to children down at SOUL has blossomed. Have a Merry Christmas!
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