Keeping it real this Christmas

I still tuck my youngest son into bed at night and say his prayers with him, he is ten years old. The last few months have been slightly amusing, I say goodnight to him, go back down the hallway to the lounge thinking he is going to sleep. Without me knowing, he has gotten out of bed, written a note and blue tacked it on his door, then got back into bed.
 

Hours later when I have gone to bed I have seen this addition to his door…. ‘Things I want for Christmas,’ SKATEBOARD is always in capital letters, followed by Lego then everything else in decreasing order of importance.
 

As a mum this makes me smile and cringe at the same time. I think it's cute but it also adds an unwanted pressure. To be completely honest, our financial position has always been pretty tight. On paper our budget just does not add up. I want to bless my kids and get them what they want for Christmas, what I don’t want is the unnecessary pressure of trying to juggle money to do this.
 

My kids know they are loved and special and we would do anything to protect them and keep them safe. They know we would love to buy them lots of stuff, but in reality, that's what it is, STUFF.
 

Christmas is about CHRIST, first and foremost and my family know what is important. Yes we do get our kids presents and bless them on Christmas but I also want them to grow up knowing that Christ comes first. I love giving gifts, so for me Christmas is awesome but it’s also the little traditions that make it what it is. The reading of the Christmas story, the family tradition of a treasure hunt and the family breakfast of just our immediate family. These things are equally as important.
 

This Christmas I want to keep the main thing the main thing, which is Christ. If you put Him first everything else will fall into place and my kids will feel blessed whether everything on their list is ticked off or not.

I refuse to get stressed about juggling the money side of things.
 

This Christmas I encourage you also to put Christ first and let Christmas be about Him. It is after all why we celebrate. Don’t let Christ be missing from your Christmas this year.
 

And just in case you are wondering, the SKATEBOARD is ticked off the list!!