Note to self: Christmas isn't about presents.
I've waffled with this for three years now, more importantly though within the last two. Nice vs. Naughty is so subjective.. because my kiddos are at both ends of that spectrum each day/week!
We tried this year to shift the focus on Christian Charity, but still the materialism and cultural conformity beckons. Next year I will remember how chaotic this year went (and I am writing this on Christmas Eve!).
SO, I promise myself to do more to instill the goodness of Jesus' birth and the importance of a savior born vulnerable and low, because that is the whole point... commercialization or not!
I promise to buy the gifts I choose and give them out slowly, possibly even one at a time, to take into account my kiddos' inability to process too much at once. I will remember the sneakiness and lies I woke up to this morning, and how in better understanding of their needs, we will have to think even more 'out of the box' with Christmastime sensory overload.
Slow, deliberate, well thought out actions are the only way to go... not that I have much assurance things will be better, but I will at least have the thought that I had thought it out more thoughtfully. :-)
On another note, Christmas Eve Mass tonight was beautiful! We went to the 5:30 and the homily was very poignant (although Matthew said from where he sat further down the pew he got a little sleepy)and really made me think. One of the things he challenged us to do was examine what influences we had/have that make us faithful. Who instilled in us the values, morals, ethics, even the impetus to come to a church service. Jacob has recently been asking the difference in people who attend 'church' vs. those like us who attend 'Mass'. I am glad he is asking questions. Although it is not the differences that need to be taught, but the likenesses.
I hope that we can impart on our kiddos the same important lessons we've learned from our own parents. Read, search, find, study, worship.
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