After we read our Bible verses, I announced what our family activity would be tonight. Jackson was thrilled! We were going Christmas shopping, and he and Lauren would get to pick out gifts for each other. He immediately told me what he thought Lauren should get him: a Buzz Lightyear.

I could see all the toys he wished for dancing in his head as he grinned, but when I told him there would be a price limit for our gifts and that Buzz Lightyear was above that, his smile disappeared. He was frustrated. For him, this family activity was about what he could get, instead of what he could give.

My husband gently began talking with Jackson about why we give gifts at Christmas and that we wanted him to experience the joy of giving to others. Jackson’s attitude began to change as Matt shared this verse with him:

The kids loved looking down the aisles, of course first gravitating to the toys they wanted. They created quite a stir in the toy section at Walmart when they started screaming with excitement over Angry Birds toys. We split up, girls and boys, and went on the hunt for the perfect gifts for the other. After making their choices, I snuck them up for purchase without either seeing their gifts (score!) and wrapped them in at least five plastic bags so peaking would take some serious effort. (That’s also why there are no photos of them in this post, because it would figure that one of them would see this and the surprise would be ruined.)

Now, we’ll see if either kid can keep a secret!!!