In a world where the winner is too often defined as the person with the most toys, it is refreshing to enter the season where others are supposed to be more important than ourselves, and the dawning of a new year brings hope for tomorrow. This is the most wonderful time of the year. It is the season for giving!
As I consider the spirit and magic of this time of year, my thoughts always turn to the children. In the innocence of children, we find the beauty and promise that the world can be a better place for us all. Through our own children, and the children of our community, we can instill the qualities that make for healthy, happy, and prosperous lives. It is the gifts we give our children that make the difference in the lives they lead.
As we consider this season of giving, we need to ask, “What gifts can make a difference for our children?” The gifts that mean the most to our children are available to us all. They are gifts that too often get overlooked because we become consumed by a world of pressures, demands, and timelines. Too often it is easy to lose sight of what really matters in life.
From the moment a young life comes into the world we need to surround it with the gifts of unconditional love, patience, understanding, confirmation, guidance, and our time. These are gifts we can all offer our children everyday of the year. These are gifts whose value increases as a child grows older, and they are gifts that instill a strong sense of identity, purpose, and ability in our children. These are gifts that can transform the way people feel about themselves, relate to each other, and choose to deal with the world around them.
The most valuable gift we can give our children is the knowledge and understanding that the greatest characteristics of being human are the ability of redemption and reconciliation. Too often children feel that poor judgment or failure on their part is a reflection of their inability and lack of worth. When this occurs, and if our children do not understand the power of redemption and reconciliation, they may feel inept and incapable of success and happiness. This should never be the case. As human beings, time allows us the opportunity to redeem and reconcile the state of our lives. A knowledge and understanding of these two powerful characteristics is the gift of perpetual hope.
As you prepare for this holiday season, keep in mind the greatest gifts you can give your children now and throughout the year. We only pass this way once, and our true legacy is found in the gifts we give.
From me and my family, BEST WISHES for a BLESSED HOLIDAY SEASON and a HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Best regards,
~Bill
