My mailbox is packed full of toy books and 3-days sales. Filled with the call to get those I love just the right gift. Or maybe just as many as possible.
And it feels heavy. Suffocating. Distracting.
How do we find the real Giving in this stifling world of purchasing joy?
I want my boys to experience the excitement of Christmas. The counting down. The waiting. But instead of making a list of what they want, let them make lists of what they have.
A gratitude chain. A link for each day we wait to celebrate His birthday.
Words written down. A simple phrase poured from the heart of a child. Linked together in a chain of our joy. The pieces of the life we share.
Our gifts held in Grace.
"For food to eat and clean water", Big says thoughtfully, eyes full of hungry empathy. "My cozy bed", bubbles out of Middle. "Deky", they both say together.
These things they might not see in the swirl of Legos and Lincoln Logs. The boxes of joy wrapped neatly beneath the tree.
These gifts that have become so familiar they begin to blur. Like missing the beauty in our own eyes.
And yet we have nothing if we don't have Gratitude.
So let them count down the days. Imagine what they might receive. Plan to pour out their love for each other.
All the while weaving together a prayer of gratitude. A chain of Grace.
And when they pass out a blanket, a gift of food, the Word wrapped in a small piece of leather... when they purchase a duck to provide eggs to feed a family not their own. Because, "ducks can swim and chickens can't and oceans sometimes rise".
May their little hearts overflow with the wonder of Christmas.
Celebrating the Gift that gave everything.
"to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves." Ephesians 1:6
May I ask you to prayerfully consider giving the gift of {Living} water...
