How to choose a Christmas gift for unappreciative spoiled children?
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Gifts for unappreciative children
As a retailer for 24 years I came in contact with not only my own childrens "wants" but that of many other people's children's "wants." And that is about all it was "wanting." I did a lot of soul searching on how to bring back the true meaning of Christmas which is believing in Jesus and the art of giving before receiving.
In our community we had many organizations that needed help with gift giving to the needy. I thought that this would be a great area for my children to learn how to give first.
Well, the "wants" on those cards were not "wishes" of someone that had little but "wants" of someone that had also forgotten the meaning of Christmas.
It wasn't until we went together and found a FAMILY that truly had very little. We were given some information about them and made our plans from there.
We got a small tree and made decorations for it and then we went shopping with some of the money that would have gone to my childrens gifts. I let them pick out what they wanted to give and we wrapped them together. Then we made dinner for them.
This was not easy for my children, mind you but they were enjoying themselves a bit, too.
We made an appointment with the family so that they would all be at home. They knew of us and were looking forward to seeing us but had no idea what to expect.
It was just amazing how my children reacted to being able to give these gifts to someone that had less then them. Humbling to say the least and greatful for what they did have.
After we did this the list became more of "wishes" rather than "wants." The "wishes" were all within line of a budget. We have also found that as time has passed we all still give to families with less then ourselves.
Whether working in a kitchen or making a meal for others. Time together has become our Greatest Gift to each other. We now live miles away from each other.
And we do not forget why we are celebrating this time. The birth of Jesus. It is not about US.
To much importance has been placed on the gifts to ourselves. In reply to what to give to unappreicative children? I would say a lump of coal and a good shot of reality.
If you can, nip it in the bud now....
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Comments
Thank you very much.... I wish I could get away with the "lump of coal and a good shot of reality" .... I have a multiplier, I am a Step-Parent! OUCH!!!
I Know that the lump of coal is a bit harsh... It really gets their minds working though. Christmas can just be so hard on people, stressful, and painful, that we really do need to stop and think. We are such fortunate people here in America, even when we feel that we have nothing we have so much.....
Angela
Great hub with wonderful ideas about finding the spirit of Christmas. When my kids were little we would go through their toys and they each chose one that was a favourite, that they tought a child of their age would love to have come Christmas morning. They boxed their choices and wrapped them in pretty, shiny paper and dropped the gifts in the box in the mall or school. My youngest son came home one year after Christmas thrilled that one of his friends had received the toy he had chosen, he never let on the gift had come from him.
Carmen,
Sounds like we have the same sense of Christmas. I really feel that with the commercialization of Christmas and the hectic lives that we all lead now that the true meaning has been lost. It is not about receiving as it is about giving and seeing the joy that it brings to others.
Thank you for your input and for stopping by and commenting.
Happy Holidays to you.
Angela James
Nayberry says:
13 months ago
Very nice. I like it.