A glimpse into my childrens' hearts

For Christmas this year we have finally set our gift giving tradition. In the past we have tried a few different methods such as one family present (a puppy that grew into a dog we no longer own), three gifts per person to remember the three gifts of the wise men, etc. This year is my favorite and the one we have settled on. We put our names in a hat and we each drew one, each person was given a $50 bill (a bit higher than the $40 I had planned but the math was easier) and the task of buying a gift that would speak to the heart of the recipient. As the time to shop drew near I was given the blessing of a glimpse into my children's hearts for each other.

I have to admit I really thought that they would focus more on what they wanted for themselves, and that when the time came to shop it would be a fight to get them to think of the person they were buying for; to be perfectly honest I put off the shopping for as long as I could because I was dreading the fights in the stores as I tried to get my kids to use their money for it's intended purpose. I never would have imagined that I would end up receiving a priceless gift from the Lord just in three brief shopping gifts.

My two year old drew his daddy's name so I got to help him pick out a gift for my husband; which I cannot talk about in case he reads this. But taking my little boy shopping was so wonderful, he was so proud of his gift it was hard to talk him in to letting me wrap it; he wanted his daddy to have it right now. He never once looked at or tried to get anything for himself, he did not whine or point to any of the movies he may have wanted even when we had to pass quite a few to get to the gift for daddy. He was so focused on doing something for daddy he didn't even stop to think about himself. Anyone who has ever taken a two year old into any type of store knows what a rare treat this was. I was so proud of him, and I saw for a moment the payoff of my work in trying to teach him to put others first.

Next was my five year old shopping for his three year old sister. I was really dreading this more than any of the others as he has had the worst case of the "gimmies" I have ever seen. I asked him if he had thought about Cadi and what she might like and he said he had and that he needed to go to Toys R Us. My first thought was to try to talk him into going somewhere else but for some unknown reason I said nothing and we went to the store he chose. We walked in and he was on a mission, he knew exactly what he was looking for and somehow knew exactly where to find it. As he looked at all the dolls and princess toys and accessories he talked through his choices. His sole purpose was to find her something she had said once, a few months ago, that she would like to have. He searched and searched until he found it, then beaming with joy he looking around for a few things to put in her stocking and proudly took his selections up to the register only pausing once to look at an umbrella he wanted for himself.

After I took him home it was my daughters turn to shop for the baby. With out a second thought she asked to got to Target to "get Emmy some baby keys, she needs keys because it isn't safe for her to have the real keys she likes to chew on. And she needs a baby of her own, I like to share mine but she needs some thing special for her own" (I may have paraphrased some of that it was a couple days ago!) Even as we walked past toys, dress up outfits, and activity kits I know she has asked for in the past her only though was getting her sister something special.

Although I know Jakob has purchased a special gift for me, a gift he thought about and was in tune with my needs and interests ( I know this because he came to me during my morning exercise and informed me that he was not going to tell my what kind of socks or Jimmie Johnson car he got me so it would be a surprise) They all have given me a more precious gift than they know. They opened up their hearts and let me see that what I teach them does make a difference. They can put others first and give out of love because I have taught them these things through the teachings of Christ. I got to see them put someone else ahead of themselves and really show their love for each other.

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another John 13:34 (NASB)