This Christmas Eve, I had purposed in my heart to spend my day with God, which I did. It seemed all day long God was showing things, changing my mind about things and altering my perception of things. It was a good day and I will tell you more about that in a future writing, but today, I want to share something with you that changed my perception on Christmas Eve.
I knew I wouldn’t see the kids until the next day, so I put their presents under my tree and was slowly getting everything ready for Christmas Day. When all was under the tree, I sat down in my chair and was looking at the presents.
As I was looking I begin to think…’oh, I should have gotten this or that. Oh, I didn’t get as much for Bryson as Brailee.’ You know what I mean, thoughts that run through our mind always telling us it is not enough.
The very moment I thought this, I received a phone call from my Mom. In our conversation, I said ‘Did the kids enjoy their Christmas?’ Now the kids I was referring to are Jesse’s kids. Jesse who went to be with the Lord in 2011.
These are his kids, they are teenagers now. Our family, being Jesse’s family, strive to keep in close contact. At times, it has been very difficult because their Mom has moved on with her life.
I had sent the kids a gift to Mom’s, their Nana, who stays in close contact with them. My Mom had purchased Chance a coat and Katlyn two pair of pajamas. That’s all. My Mom still works and doesn’t have tons of extra money. I said all that to explain this;
Mom answered my question as if they had a good Christmas by saying ‘Yes, they did, Kim, when Katlyn opened her first pair of pajamas she was so excited. At first, she was amazed at how soft they were, then she put her face down in the pajamas and wept and wept, she was so glad to have them.’
This conversation stopped me in my tracks. I sat in my chair and wept and said ‘God, you have to help me help them.’
Why did it affect me this way? Because at the same moment I was sitting there looking at the kids’ gifts, toys, things they will love, thinking I should have done more, this young girl was so thankful for one pair of pajamas.
When the kids came over the next day, before they could open their presents, I had a talk with them. I told them this story and I said ‘don’t ever take what you get for granted, ALWAYS BE THANKFUL FOR EVERY THING YOU ARE GIVEN and remember to give thanks. I said to them ‘there are so many people who get nothing at Christmas or who get very little, yet they are more thankful than many kids that get a lot. I don’t want either of you to ever become that way. Always be thankful and always remember to give thanks to God.’
It reminded me of the day Jesus said the widow woman gave more than those who had given a great amount. She gave all she had and she did it cheerfully. She was thankful to give what she had to give.
Katlyn’s heart changed my Christmas. It altered my perception of gifts and giving. It made me want to do more for her because she was so thankful for so little.
Isn’t that the way it is with God? If we are a give me, give me, give me person…He doesn’t like that. But when we give to Him and to others with a thankful and cheerful heart, the Bible says He will continue to increase what we have. I have seen His faithfulness in a heart that gives thanks repeatedly.
Also, be sure to make an effort to teach these principles in your children and grandchildren. Each time God uses a particular circumstance to teach YOU something, use it to teach others as well.
After our talk, when my grandkids opened their gifts, a peace settled over the room. They gave thanks for each gift, big or small…it was a wonder-filled Christmas. I praise God for the lessons He teaches me day after day, and for those He empowers me to teach others. To God be the Glory!
