Think eternal and internal with gift giving and receiving.
Does your son have an unhealthy dependence on a video game?
Is the newest version of that game really what's best for him?
Is your daughter obsessed with her outward appearance?
Is a 1000 shade make up kit what's best for her?
"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights..." (James 1:17).
This means that every good and perfect gift is eternally and internally good for us.
I love Mary's response to the unexpected gift of an unexpected pregnancy.
And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name. (Luke 1:46-49 ESV)
She found the blessing in a gift from God that invited this teenage girl to give up any dreams she had of a fairy tale engagement with the man of her dreams. Joseph. Gone was the esteem of her community, the honor of "doing things right" or the glorious wedding ceremony of her childhood dreams.
Mourning that loss and struggling with fear, she found true joy. The true joy in receiving God's gift, that good & perfect gift, which was better than any gift of her dreams. Unexpectedly pregnant, Mary chose to rejoice and then saw the goodness and perfection in the gift that ruined her dreams and gave her new, good and perfect dreams.
As a parent I've leaned:
1. My kids are way more mature and spiritually minded than I often remember. They are deep thinkers with an honest and individual relationship with God. (Independent of me). God is working in them just like He is working in me.
2. My kids desire to do right and be righteous more than they desire the latest gadget or piece of clothing.
3. They struggle (just like I do) with forgetting #2 sometimes.
So my honest desire for gift giving requires that I remember this:
Because #1 is true, a good and perfect gift will help them overcome the struggle of #3 and inspire #2.
Gift ideas:
1. Time together. Teach them something even if you're not good at it. (Teach them how to be bad at something and be ok with it).
2. Make them something and pray for them while you make it. You'll find that God will give you a story to tell as you give the gift. (Even if it's terrible craftsmanship).
3. Give them your bible. Preferrably one you have used, marked up and is stained by your smudges and tears.
4. Give them an heirloom. If you don't have one handed down to you, start one. Go to a thrift shop, buy an old pie plate, bake their favorite pie, give them the pie with an honest request to start a tradition with the pie plate. Boom! Heirloom started.
5. Serve someone else together. Find a need that resonates with them and coordinate a way for you to serve together. Show them to value service, community, selflessness. Imagine the impact you could have together?!? Talk about a wonderful gift! This is my favorite idea.
Don't spend what you don't have to buy what they don't want. They really want way more than something you can buy in a store.
God Bless you this Holiday Season with peace, joy and the most good and most perfect gift of Jesus Christ. Because of Him, we get God, Heaven, the Earth all good and perfect gifts.
