Today is Sunday, and the kids woke up a little under the weather. I went into the living room and found Bridger standing by the tree with a disconcerted look on his face. “Where’s dad’s presents?,” he asked. (Even though Bridger is only four he knows the alphabet really well and is starting to put letters and words together). Oh no, I thought to myself, how do you explain to a just barely turned four year old that the little money you had for Christmas you spent on them and not on each other?
Then he asked another question, “and where are your presents mom?”
So, I wrapped him in his blankey and snuggled him on the couch and told him that I had three presents, Bridger, Landon, and Brooklyn. He started crying and told me that he wanted me to have real presents. Wow, I thought to myself, here is a little boy that probably should just be worrying about what he’s getting for Christmas, and here he is worrying about others. Well, THAT is the greatest gift I could give my child. I’ve always wondered how I could teach that as well as my own mother did. Maybe my own mom is right, it’s by what they see in their every day lives. Maybe it’s not giving them everything they want. Maybe it is doing callings, especially when it’s hard, maybe it’s speaking kindly about people, maybe it’s taking someone a meal, maybe it’s all of things that I need to work on SO much in my own life. I know I don’t have all of the answers, but I do know that bigger, better, and more is not usually the answer.
One of my biggest goals and greatest hopes as a mother, would be that I would raise the kind of children that would care about, take care of, and serve others. This Sunday morning I was reminded by a small child what Christmas is really about. I’m thankful for my Savior, for His birth, and for his life. I’m thankful for His PERFECT example and for his ultimate sacrifice. What a beautiful holiday to celebrate such a noble and great One.
