Ariella taught me an important lesson the other day when a sweet friend was having a hard time leaving our home after playtime. I asked Ari Love if she could spare a toy from her toy box to give to the little girl to make her feel better and what she did astounded me. She went right up to her most favorite toy, picked it up, and said here you go, I would like to give this to you. I asked Ari Love a few times if she was sure that was the toy that she wanted to give her since I knew how much she loved it and I was afraid of a regretful tantrum later. She repeatedly said yes mama, and I held her happy hand while a joyful little girl happily left with her mama. She never asked about this toy again.
Now I know that children are born into this Earth for us to teach them in the ways of the Lord but let me tell you that since becoming a mother, these precious babies have taught me more in the ways of the Lord than I could ever know.
It was Christmas Eve-Eve when I started this post, which, I wouldn't
have known was a thing until everyone on Instagram and Facebook was
posting about the eve-eve. I think it's so neat that so much surrounds
the timeline of Christmas but it still hasn't become second nature to me
because this is like only my 5th year celebrating it. It's an incredibly beautiful
and odd time for me I think. I have always loved the spirit of
Christmas and the meaning and how everyone gives so generously and so
much of themselves, but I can't say that I'm particularly good at it
yet. Namely I get overwhelmed easily and don't plan ahead like the pros do haha. Everyone got gift cards this year, with the exception of our girls
who got a gift each...three in total...from Amazon Prime. Shortly thereafter, my sweet
Brent and I watched this documentary on Netflix called "Minimalism," and
I cried and felt much better about myself haha. I think for someone on the
outside looking in, it's easy to see how much of the holiday season is
taken for granted, the overwhelming consumerism of it all and whatnot.
But I'm not trying to be that person, I promise. I loved watching the
girls open their far too many presents and hearing their screams and squeals
and exclamations of "this is my favorite present ever!" (for the 20th time) with the sight of each box wrapped in too beautiful to rip paper. It was all worth the anxiety I would eventually get in trying to figure out what to do with everything. I think at their
age, it takes about 10 gifts for them to find the one that they
absolutely can't live without. And while I'd like to think that the gifts
that we got them were their favorites, they weren't, and I'm completely
ok with admitting that. This Mackenzie-Childs tea party set that their amazing grandmother got them for Christmas last year is probably one of my
favorite gifts ever. We play with it practically every single day and
she spent way too much money on it, and I probably wouldn't have. So
who am I to say don't buy this or that?
Upon further self reflection, I have come to the conclusion that it is just as important to be a gracious
receiver as it is to be a gracious giver. And most importantly, to remember that Jesus is at the heart of it all.
X,
Madina
Mackenzie-Childs Courtly Check 2 quart tea kettle- here
Mackenzie-Childs children's tea party set- here
*This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you click and shop through my blog, I receive a commission from your purchase. I only post about things that I truly and confidently believe in so that you can do your shopping confidently as well. XX, Madina*
Mackenzie-Childs Courtly Check 2 quart tea kettle- here
Mackenzie-Childs children's tea party set- here
*This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you click and shop through my blog, I receive a commission from your purchase. I only post about things that I truly and confidently believe in so that you can do your shopping confidently as well. XX, Madina*
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