We cannot expect our children to live some sort of ‘reclusive’ lifestyle in Christmas, but spiritual guide Gordon Vassallo tells us how to harmonise their persistent demands and desires for material goods with the need to teach them how to thrive socially, intellectually and spiritually, especially in this blessed time.

Christmas is a time when we come together in joy, acknowledging the pivotal point in human history, the birth of Jesus Christ, the point where God built a bridge between himself and those he created in his own image.

But in the midst of frenzied shopping, decorating and entertaining, how do we, as parents or guardians, animate our children’s hearts and minds to go beyond the glitter and shine and stand in awe before the profoundness of God’s plan for salvation, incarnated in baby Jesus amid the poverty of a little village?

The task at hand is not an easy one. Even as adults we tend to lose focus on the real meaning of Christmas,let alone our kids, whose main interest is in the unwrapping of their gifts

The task at hand is not an easy one. Even as adults we tend to lose focus on the real meaning of Christmas, let alone our kids, whose main interest is in the unwrapping of their gifts. In an age of hyper-consumerism and overconsumption, it is no longer the parents’ role to choose the right gifts for their children, but it is the children’s role of picking up gifts and gadgets according to the latest market trends and brands.

Yet, the mere possession of material goods cannot seem to satisfy our loved ones, no matter how much they own. If the emotional and social well-being of our children is at stake, what then is the balancing act? How do we harmonise the persistent demands and desires of our children for material goods with the need to teach them how to thrive socially, intellectually and spiritually especially in this blessed time?

First and foremost, children are capable of an inner spiritual life; it is embedded in every human being from birth by the Divine, precisely for the purpose of discovering through our pilgrimage on earth the real purpose of our existence, to help us relate in a loving way to the world, offering our talents and gifts and, in so doing, manifest God’s Glory. On the other hand, we cannot expect our children to live in some sort of ‘reclusive’ lifestyle either. So what is the way forward?

Practical tips for engaging children in the Christmas spirit:

• Children crave quality time with their parents. Make yourselves extra available to them during this time; decorate the tree and set up the Christmas crib together; cook party recipes together even if it ends up in a mess.

• Prepare the Advent wreath and let your children know its symbolic significance of portraying hope, peace, joy and love. Encourage your children to say a prayer as the candle lighting progresses from week to week till the last candle is lit, symbolising the light of Christ.

• Talk to children about our faith in a language they can understand. If our children are deprived of our own religious experience, especially our experience of hope despite life’s daily trials, it would be difficult for them to assimilate the coming of Christ as a ray of hope to a fallen world.

• Recount Bible stories portraying the birth of Christ, who came not as an enthroned king, but in great simplicity and poverty.

• Encourage children to make a list of what they are grateful for before making a list of what they would like for Christmas.

• Instil a spirit of altruism by encouraging children to give and share something of what they have and help the less fortunate. Yuletide is a time of giving and compassion. Teach your children to show some appreciation andconsideration for other people.

Disciplining our children to treasure what has value does not mean depriving them of their long-awaited presents. We do not want to spoil the excitement of partying and fun – far from it. Rather, we seek to embed a sense of gratitude towards the creator of all for the gifts they have or are about to receive.

By making Christ the centre of our Christmas celebrations and taking time to teach our children the true meaning of Christmas, we set a firm foundation for their faith in years to come. We seek to help our children understand the compassionate themes of this festive season and build meaningful memories they will cherish as we help them grow in mind and body.

It is Christmas in the heart that puts Christmas in the air. In the words of George Mathew Adams, a renowned American author: “Let us remember that the Christmas heart is a giving heart, a wide open heart that thinks of others first. The birth of baby Jesus stands as the most significant event in all history, because it has meant the pouring into a sick world of the healing medicine of love, which has transformed all manner of hearts for 2,000 years… Underneath all the bulging bundles, outward display of tinsel and decorations, is this beating Christmas heart.”

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