I hope Katy or I will fill in the details of the last couple of days, but this is before I forget. This morning we tramped off to church, arrived during the first hymn and then had an unusual way of keeping the children quiet and occupied during the prayers and readings. J took off his jumper and put on his new wizard cloak and hat. K took off his shoes and jumper and put on his new Mr. Incredible costume, complete with fake muscles, gloves and eye mask. L took off her jumper so she could fasten the (pink) wings onto the (pink) fairy dress she was already wearing. The minister is a seasoned professional who didn’t bat an eye-lid at our family turning the pew into a changing room.
It went a bit pear-shaped later in the service when L got bored and noisy and so had to take her out to the crèche, but before that as we were singing the joyful hymns and hearing about the reaction of the shepherds, the angels and Mary in the Christmas story and the remembering the children’s faces when they opened their presents earlier, I thought that what Katy and I really were giving them was joy. The physical presents were just a vehicle – they weren’t the latest, greatest, most popular, most whizzy or anything like that (being free from the power of the playground helps!) They reflected Katy’s knowledge of them (she bought the presents), and love for them. It sounds very corny and hackneyed, but doesn’t stop it being true – the greatest gifts you can give your children are love, joy, a sense of wonder and of security, self-discipline, respect for others and so on. And, unlike the latest trainers or electronic frippery, are what every child deserves.
absolutely 🙂
Yes, very true. Yuletide greetings to you all!