– the story of love, giving, serving and sacrifice
At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” Then he called a little child over to sit among the disciples,and said, “I assure you that if you don’t turn your lives around and become like this little child, you will definitely not enter the kingdom of heaven. Those who humble themselves like this little child will be the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me. – Matthew 18:1-5
Priceless:
When we let our children believe that Christmas is all about “getting presents,” the effect is inflationary and we condemn them to disappointment. When we teach our children how to give sacrificially and love unconditionally the joy and the peace they experience is priceless.
This morning I am writing about something that has been on my heart for a while now. Not in a judgy way so much as an aching, sad way. It came into clearer focus for me this past weekend. Well, clear focus through the blur of the tears that leaked into my eyes.
Of course it doesn’t take much for me to cry in church. Usually it’s one line – or memory – from a good hymn that touches my heart and I’m gone. Even more so at this time of the year, when the Christmas story and the carols stir my memories and my emotions.
This Sunday it was“Oh come all ye faithful” and I thought about what makes Christmas so magical. Then I thought about how few people really are faithful and, in consequence, how many children miss out on the real story and the heart of the season. Kids given everything they want and nothing they need. And that thought makes me sad.
It’s like we skip Christmas altogether.
– without this gift, Christmas does not, will not, cannot exist
One of our most profound family Christmas memories is the day our children, Andrew and Naomi (maybe six and eight at the time), chose to forgo the new scooters they had been dreaming of and, instead, gave them to children who had nothing.
But they could never have experienced that blessing had they not been in church, or adopted those needy kids because we cultivated a family ethos of grace and generosity. Children who have not learned how to give with generous hearts are soon impoverished themselves.
We all live out of a defining story:
My heart aches for children (and their parents) who miss out on church and serving others and mutual encouragement and practiced generosity. We all live out of a defining story, and when that story is ourselves and what we can get it’s a short road to disappointment and dissatisfaction.
– the gift of a better story
It’s like the following idea that I have presented and rephrased a dozen times over the past few years: If we choose “happiness” (fun, pleasure, self) over “meaning” then we end up with neither happiness nor meaning. When we choose meaning over fun we find that we have it all.
This Christmas let’s give our children the gift of a better story. – DEREK
