Yes, you want to give them the world this Christmas, but what if they already have it?

Brown boxes are arriving on our doorstep and I’m constantly calculating numbers in my head to make sure we’ve been fair in executing the operation of organizing the kids’ gifts. Miraculously, we had a budget this year for each child this Christmas and a savings account. This is our first time ever doing that.

Last year, we had a small meltdown from one who didn’t feel they had enough presents to open compared to the others. As you know, kids get older and the value of the gifts shift. Some look large and are inexpensive. Some are small and enormously expensive. So this feeling of anxiety overwhelms me at times.

Are we giving them what they need and not spoiling them? Is it all enough? Will they know how loved they are when they walk down the stairs on Christmas morning? Will they experience the warmth and magic that we did as a child?

Of course, they will. They already have. It’s not just about the experience on Christmas morning – the gifts they receive or the feelings we’re anticipating and sometimes forcing ourselves to feel.

All throughout the year as a mama, you have given of yourself. You have sacrificed everything for the sake of your children. You have shed tears over their disobedience, hauled them around like a time-crunched uber driver, played nurse through sickness, endured sleepless nights and so much more.

So maybe right now, you’re worn out from Christmas musicals, gift exchanges, and you’re coming down from that sugar cookie high. Maybe you’re not even yourself. One morning just doesn’t cover it all in your love for your kids. You’ve been showing them your love day after day, night after night, every second and every hour.

When you’re not with them, you’re praying for them.

So what if there’s whining and complaining from one or two or three on Christmas day? It’s okay. Yep, it’s totally ok. If there’s fighting and sibling rivalry and you forgot to purchase batteries for the remote control car that won’t get used next week? It’s ok. If you didn’t get the gift they wanted? That’s ok too.

Release the pressure to be all and do all for your kids. You can never lift up to that expectation. You are already loved as their mama. The greatest gift you can give them is not a toy, electronic, or new bike. All those things are fun and great. I love the reaction to a surprise gift! But the best gift they will ever open is accepting the gift of God sending his son Jesus into the world to save them from their sin – from their selfishness. And He has already given each of us the greatest gift we could ever receive.

I know this is a constant reminder in your home when Santa, wrapped presents, candy canes, and stockings seem more exciting.

I pray your Christmas day is everything you want it to be and more. I hope you know that you’ll never be disappointed in letting Jesus take the “not enough” and even broken and hurting parts of your mama heart this season. We’re all in this together.

You are so loved,

Samantha

Samantha Krieger is wife to Jeremiah and mama to 2 boys & 2 girls- 13 and under. She loves iced coffee, TJ Maxx, and mascara. She’s the author of Quiet Time: A 30-day Devotional Retreat for Moms in the Trenches. Her work has been featured on the Today Show online, Love What Matters, and Cafe Mom. She writes from Florida’s gulf coast and enjoys connecting with readers on her personal blogFacebook and Instagram.
(Visited 255 times, 1 visits today)

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Switch to mobile version