There are some gifts we can give our children that will last a lifetime.
Christmas is my favorite holiday. It always has been — but not for the reason you may think. It’s not about the material gifts. The holiday is so much more than that. It’s about the way the snow falls quietly to the ground and how a string of twinkly lights across a rooftop can light up a whole yard. It’s about the smell of fresh pine, Christmas carols on the radio, a fire burning on a cold snowy night, the taste of the ice-filled air when you walk outside, and lit Christmas trees shining magically through the windows of houses. It’s also about kindness.
This Christmas, my wife and I decided to limit the amount of gifts we give each other and our daughter, Maggie. We decided to adopt a family in need instead, and take Maggie shopping with us to buy their presents. It was a fun and rewarding experience for all of us, and we plan on making it a yearly tradition.
We did get Maggie a couple of things, but that’s it. I don’t believe in spoiling her with a bunch of toys and material items that she will grow tired of within a month or two. I want to give her the types of gifts that will last a lifetime—like the gift of kindness. These are the types of gifts that matter most.
So, here is a list of the five most important gifts I plan on giving my daughter this Christmas. This list is one that will never change. It will stay the same year after year, no matter how old she gets.
1. Kindness — teaching our children to be kind is one of the most important things we can do as parents. A kind child grows into a compassionate adult.
2. Self-worth — I want Maggie to know that she matters and that she is important just as she is. Every individual has a purpose.
3. Imagination — the beauty of imagination is that it sparks creativity and a host of many other wonderful attributes. Most people lose their imaginations by the time they reach adulthood. Perhaps I can help Maggie keep hers forever.
4. The freedom to make mistakes — so many of us are afraid to make mistakes in life. Maybe we were conditioned as children to believe that mistakes are bad? And maybe, just maybe, I can teach Maggie the opposite.
5. The courage to follow dreams — my parents always told me that I was an excellent writer, but they never believed I could actually make a career out of it. I want Maggie to know she can be whatever she wants to be, whether it’s an auto mechanic or the President of the United States. Nothing is impossible; only our thoughts tell us that it is.
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