The Christmas list is a little different this year at our house. While we’ll still try to get up to three big gifts for each of our children and grandchildren, we have decided to get back to doing something we did when our kids were small. We plan to give the littles a gift that enables them to give to someone else.
Our emphasis has always been on the birth of Christ, hence the number of gifts being the same number mentioned in Scripture as those brought to Jesus by the wise men. We’ve tried to discourage “What am I getting?” as the focus of the season. We set a budget and ask the kids and grandkids to give us ideas, but there’s no guarantee they’ll get everything they ask for. And we’ve intentionally looked for ways to give experiences instead of stuff. We hope all these things have encouraged celebrating the season for its true meaning instead of simply a way to collect lots of new belongings.
This year, we want to get back to something we used to do when our kids were growing up. We want to give our littles the chance to participate in giving to something bigger than themselves, something that makes a difference in someone else’s life.
We already give a percentage of every paycheck as a tithe. That means that before we pay any bills, before we buy any groceries, before we do anything with the money that comes in, we give a designated percentage back to the One who provided it in the first place. That is just what we do. That money isn’t even figured into our budget, it’s not ours to use. It goes to our church.
Occasionally in the past, Kent got a bonus at the end of the year. When that happened, we also tithed the bonus. We gave the same percentage of it as we did the regular paycheck, but we gave it in a different way. We chose a special need someone had that we were not usually able to give toward and contributed the money to that. In addition, rather than Kent and me giving the whole amount of money ourselves, we took a portion and divided it among the kids. They were allowed to choose whatever ministry or need they wanted to give their portion to. They chose to give to things like missions, summer camp scholarships, and local ministries. It was fun to see them experience the thrill of giving.
We’ve decided this year to try this with our littles. We’ll still give them some tangible gifts, but we’re taking a portion of their gift budget and encouraging them to choose a gift for their Christmas list from the Samaritan’s Purse Christmas Catalog.
The catalog is filled with gifts for people all over the world with needs like:
- Rescue children in crisis
- Feed a hungry baby
- Provide a water filter for a family
- Purchase baby chicks or a goat for a family in need
- Contribute toward heart or eye surgery for a needy child
- Contribute toward medical equipment for a clinic in a remote area
- Provide a hive, equipment, and training for a new beekeeper
- Provide blankets and bedding
- Give to a mission hospital
All the money goes toward the work of Samaritan’s Purse all over the world. If Samaritan’s Purse receives more money for any given project than they feel can be used responsibly, they apply the surplus to other projects. Up to ten percent of the money is used for administering the gift. And all the gifts are given in the spirit of Christmas, sharing about the One who’s birth we celebrate.
We hope to encourage our littles to not only work within a small budget, but to weigh out the possibilities and contribute where they believe their money will do the most good. We want them to take their time and contribute to something they feel strongly about. We want them to experience the joy of giving, not just getting, for Christmas.
I’m excited about our Christmas list this year and I’m hoping the littles will be as well. I’m looking forward to an opportunity to share the joy of Christmas with the next generation.
May your holidays be full of family and the joy of the season.
Merry Christmas!
Blessings!
