My inspiration for this record of my days:

“The biggest mistake I made [as a parent] is the one that most of us make. . . . I did not live in the moment enough. This is particularly clear now that the moment is gone, captured only in photographs. There is one picture of [my three children] sitting in the grass on a quilt in the shadow of the swing set on a summer day, ages six, four, and one. And I wish I could remember what we ate, and what we talked about, and how they sounded, and how they looked when they slept that night. I wish I had not been in such a hurry to get on to the next thing: dinner, bath, book, bed. I wish I had treasured the doing a little more and the getting it done a little less” -Anna Quindlen

Monday, December 6, 2010

The first gifts of Christmas

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These three boxes are the first “gifts” to be placed under our tree every year.  After we decorate the tree, but before we read a Christmas story and sing carols, we talk about the wise men.  We talk about how they traveled far, and wanted to bring the very best gifts they could think of to give to the baby Jesus.

We talk about what gifts we would want to give to the Savior.   We talk about the scripture that says “Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.”

And then we commit to making  Christmas time a season of kindness, and of giving gifts to the Savior by loving and serving one another. 

After each pre-meditated kind act, we put a “gem” (a.k.a. little transparent rock-like thing) in one of the boxes.  The idea is to fill those boxes up with acts of kindness.

It’s just a simple little tradition, but it seems to really help us focus on the true spirit of Christmas.

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2 comments:

  1. LeahDecember 6, 2010 at 9:39 PM

    I think this is a wonderful Idea!! Love it!

    ReplyDelete
  2. JeffDecember 7, 2010 at 4:05 AM

    Thanks for all the traditions you come up with. You're great! I think this also helps to test the will power and obedience of our youngest each year as there are boxes of gems that are easily accessible and calling their name.

    ReplyDelete

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