For Unto Us a Child is Born – The Gift That Never Disappoints
As parents, it is a joy to give gifts to our loved ones at Christmastime, especially to our young children. I recall trying to purchase just the right gifts when my children were young – those teen years were the most difficult to navigate. Some years, there was elation; some years there was disappointment.
How do parents navigate this disappointment especially when their children talk with friends that boast about their cool electronics? Perhaps you are intentional with your budget and gift-giving and align those with your convictions about devices, electronics, and gaming. And yet, as a mom or dad you desire for Christmas morning to be a joyful time as presents are unwrapped; yet you are torn by knowing there will be disappointment. May I offer a suggestion?
Remind your children that the thoughtfulness, time spent wrapping, and money spent toward gift-giving is what to be grateful for, even more than the gift itself. And expect your child to express that with a genuine “thank you.” That’s a hard one to learn. Perhaps the item on your child’s list was not purchased because you knew it was either too costly or not appropriate for the values you want to cultivate in your child. When you decide to please the Lord more than your child’s wish list, your heart will find rest in that.
Depending on your child’s age, allow time for him or her to deal with their own emotions. You decide to be joyful even if your heart is hurting from the disappointment. If your child is outwardly pouting, a reset needs to happen at some point. You be the judge on when and how that should take place.
As a family, take turns reading Isaiah’s prophecy in 9:6 and Luke 2:1-20. Discuss the greatest gift of all -Jesus, and reflect on how this gift never disappoints. In doing this, you are replacing emotional disappointment of an earthly gift with the gospel truth of an eternal gift!
Perhaps talk about why God sent Jesus to be born. Discuss that Jesus is God with us – Immanuel. Just think of that! And then talk about what His purpose was. Read 1 John 5:11-12 or John 3:16. If the Lord leads, be prepared to discuss the gospel message and be sensitive to whether or not God is working in a particular heart to receive the Gift of Jesus. However, if your child already knows Jesus as Savior, then you might emphasize that earthly gifts will eventually break, grow stale, become outdated, and disappoint, but the ultimate gift of eternal life will be just that…ETERNAL! And that’s worth celebrating!
Keep in mind, dear parent, your job is to honor the Lord with your convictions as you rear your children. In the short term, this might bring disappointment to your child, but know this: you are bringing great joy to your heavenly Father’s heart. And in the long term, you will have set the wonderful example for your child when he or she is grown and makes similar decisions for your grandchildren. Perspective is a beautiful thing.
