Most parents are in agreement that we want to see more of Christ in Christmas. It is so easy to get caught up in the good things of the season and forget the best thing…Jesus. Sure, we’ll read the Bible story and remind our kids often what Christmas is really about, but the magnificence of it all is lost somewhere between the second hour in the department store line and the seventh batch of cookies.
Today, I’d like to share one little way to celebrate Christ this season.
A few years ago, when I was a volunteer at an after-school program, I had the kids in my group make presents for Jesus. We wrapped a flat piece of cardboard with wrapping paper, and on the outside, I affixed giant tags that said To: Jesus. On the tag, I had the child write or dictate to me what they would like to give to Jesus for Christmas.
In my group, I had children as young as first grade, and as old as middle school. I was pleasantly surprised when kids began answering without any prompting from me.
Some made me chuckle. “I’ll clean my room,” or, “I’ll be nicer to my sister.”
Some made me cry, like when a little boy who was in foster care said, “I’m going to forgive my mom for leaving me.”
I joined in, too, and made a gift of my own. I was going to be more patient. (Still working on that one.)
We displayed the gifts on our bulletin board and many were blessed by the sweet and pure words of these kids. The next year, I had the kids wrap boxes and they were able to place private thoughts inside.
It wasn’t as cute on the bulletin boards, but knowing no one would read their answers caused some of the kids to be more open. I’ll never forget writing out a letter to Jesus from a seven year old that said she was going to stop lying. A teenage boy spent a good half hour writing a letter that he sealed in the box with a smile.
I’ve never done this with my own kids, for no reason other than I forgot about it. Now that I’ve remembered, we’ll have a few gifts for Jesus under our tree this year. Will you?
I LOVE this! I think I’ll have to wrap a present for Jesus this year and place it under the tree. Perhaps I’ll save it with all the other decorations and bring it out again next year, adding a new gift each year!
Angela, this was a great idea, and I’m sure it will be imprinted in the minds of those children. We have a Jesus stocking with drawn pictures or written notes in it from years gone by. I love to take out the “gifts” and remember what we gave.
He is going to forgive his mom for leaving him? I could barely type that.
Jesus is indeed able to make this happen, cause in my human-ness I want to hurt people.
This idea indeed puts all the emphasis where it should be–thank you for the reminder honey.