Something I have been thinking about a lot lately is how to teach my children the gift of giving. No doubt it is the Christmas season that has brought these thoughts to my mind. As I watch my children look through catalogs and point to so many things that they want I can't help but think that they just don't get it yet. Is it age/time that will teach my children this?
How do you teach your children how wonderful it is to give? That the feeling you get from giving is one of the best rewards you can receive. How do you teach them that they should give just to give and not expect something in return?
For instance I was watching a Christmas movie on TV that is called, "The Christmas Angel" about a man who was wealthy and would give so many gifts annonomsly. I have done this in the past and the internal reward is truely like no other. How can I teach this to my children? How can I teach them that giving a gift to someone and the only two who know about it are you, the giver, and the big Man upstairs is one of the most amazing feelings you will ever have? When you possibly see how happy the person is to have recieved the annomus gift you heart swells with pride that you are responsible for that moment of happiness.
A few years ago a friend of mine made a comment to me that took me off gaurd. I have thought about it over the years and just recently read a chat room page that reminded me of it. The comment was, "We only put 'from santa' on the little things and the long awaited special gift comes from us." When I asked why she said, "I want credit for those gifts.". This baffles me... Why do some people feel the need to get "credit" when they give something? Isn't the pure joy and excitement from your child the best "credit" you can get?
And, how do you teach your children that some gifts, some of the best gifts, come from within and don't cost a cent? That a gift truely from the heart means so much more then a thoughtless gift that cost hundreds of dollars. The gift of time can mean the world to some one who needs company or just someone to listen.
I want my children to learn the gift of giving and the amazing rewards, internally, that you recieve. I want my children to think more of others then of themselves. I want them to think out the perfect gift instead of looking at the price tag.
Recently I was touched to tears about a friend of mine and her son. Her son came to her because he some how learned about a group in town that raises money and gives gifts to children who would otherwise not recieve much if anything. He was so affected by this and just had to help. He came up with the idea of having a bake sale and he and his mom worked hard to put it together. They contacted a local business and asked to use their parking lot for a morning. Then they asked friends and family to donate baked goods. A couple of weeks ago they put together the stand and sold the amazing amount of donated baked goods. People were so generous giving money when they didn't even buy anything and even giving more money on top of what they did buy. At the end of the day they had raised over $1,200! They then went shopping and delievered all the gifts. AMAZING! And you know what they got in return? NOTHING! Well actually, they got a lot, just nothing tangable. That little boy, who is just six years old, knows more about the gift of giving then most adults. How do I teach my children to be like him?
How do I give my children the gift of giving?
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