Every year, we hear the cries of many families because of the strained budget of Christmas financial strain that is placed on many families. We try and fit in the needs of that one particular day we want to look great in our kid’s eyes. And when we feel as if we can’t meet the quota. We cling to the old adage that our children do not understand.
The truth is- some of us never told them the truth. Christmas has never been about toys and clothes. It has and always will be about Jesus and his birth. He wasn’t born in a fancy hotel with all of the trimmings, and people didn’t come from a far to see him. He was born in a stable where animals slept. He is our gift for the season.
Toys don’t come from Santa Claus and he doesn’t ride on reindeer. To keep up a lie is very expensive. I always taught my son it is about Jesus, and I don’t need a special occasion to give him something. Our hope is the reason he was born. And our hope is the reason he died and was resurrected.
To keep myself from falling into a depression about what I couldn’t give my son. I always told him the truth and we made plans to always do our special shopping after Christmas. Not because I wanted him to believe or have faith in a lie. I hear the phrase so many times: If I don’t get this or that, we won’t have Christmas. When you have Jesus, you always have Christmas. Christ is alive always.
Not being able to afford expensive gifts, doesn’t make us bad parents. Our message should be about Jesus all of the time.
He is the best gift. And it last forever.
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