Tis the Season

'Tis the season to spend gobs of money and totally spoil our kids rotten...but what message are we really telling our children? That it is ok to be irresponsible with our money? That it is sensible to have a hundred things we don't need and will hardly use? That value is in the dollar amount and not the time and energy a person spent thinking of them? Let's face it, when we look around at society, it is obvious what parents are teaching kids. We may not intend for the wrong lessons to be taught, but we don't pause long enough to think about the value in what is being learned.
I encourage you to just stop for a few moments before you spend your hard-earned money this year...stop and think about what values you are wanting your children to learn.
In our home, we encourage hand-crafted gifts--to teach our children about true value. We get our children a couple clothing items--to teach our children about what they need verses what they want. And one or two toys to remind our children how blessed they are. And, allow your children to participate...have them craft items for their loved ones. Make Christmas more about giving than receiving this year...I promise your children will be better off for it, and you just might get blessed too!