The greatest gift

This boy right here melted my heart this morning. You see, it's Christmas. And while he was excited about presents and Santa, like any 5 year old is, I heard him start to sing. But it wasn't Rudolph, Jingle Bells, or we wish you a merry Christmas. No, the song he started with today was about Jesus, the whole reason for this holiday. As a parent trying to raise children of faith, hearing Joy to the World instead of a secular Christmas song indeed brought joy into my celebrations. Don't get me wrong, he also sang secular songs and I enjoyed those too but I have always wanted him to realize that today is about JESUS. 

From going to church last night to reminding him frequently that today is Jesus's birthday, he was so aware today isn't Santa's day but Jesus' that at lunch he speculated about whether Jesus was handing out goody bags at his birthday party. Apparently to a 5 year old, birthday automatically means there is a party and therefore a goody bag! As adults, I think we often forget that this is Jesus' day and that we got the most awesome goody bag in that we received a savior. All the other stuff is just that...stuff. And while I love my new stuff, it isn't the best present I received today. The best one is that my 5 year old gets *IT*. Perhaps he will follow in his Grand-père's footsteps and become a pastor. Perhaps he won't. But at least I know that he knows "unto us a child is born"! Glory to God in the highest!