What Christmas is All About

Our church set up a children's Christmas store three years ago. It is a big hit with the children because they can buy gifts for others on their own. It is a real sense of empowerment and an ego booster for them. Everything is marked under one dollar and no adults/parents are allowed inside of the store. Mackenzie took advantage of this the most out of the two girls and bought something every week the store was open. Both girls even wrapped gifts for other shoppers in the wrapping room. Christmas eve we had a Santa representative participate in a drama explaining that Santa reminds us of the magi who gave the baby Jesus gifts (of gold, frankencense and myrr); to encourage us to give rather than to receive. The puppet show hinted at it as well; that Christmas definately isn't about reindeer. Christmas eve while I was tucking Kenzie into bed, she lay back with her hands behind her head and said, "Mommy, I feel badly. Because I'm excited thinking about the gifts I'm going to get." I assured her that it was okay, especailly as a child, that receiving gifts is exciting and that she certainly had the idea of giving to others. She bought soemthing for everyone; regardless of whose pocket the funding came from. It's good to know that the messages we want to pass on are being absorbed even when we think no one is paying attention.