My husband and I live modestly. We’ve come to only buy what we need and through this, have realized how very little we actually need. We rarely buy the kids gifts and toys throughout the year since we simply don’t have the money for that kind of thing during this season of life. We don’t follow the three gifts per kid in reference to the three presents the three kings brought to Jesus for Christmas. Brandon and I love to overwhelm and overload them with gifts. Isn’t that what Jesus does for us? At least that's how we justify the lavishness! We love the anticipation, the sparkle in their eyes, the excitement, the chaos, just the whole darn thing. We use the Christmas bonus to go a little crazy showering them with everything we couldn’t afford to get them throughout the year. We absolutely love it and so do they. Last year we just went out and threw things in the shopping cart without really thinking through the quality and the reviews of each toy. Many things we got didn’t last long and a few even broke on Christmas day! This year we wanted it to be different. On Black Friday I decided to check out the deals and saw quite a few! I needed to stay home and do it all online since the boys were home with me. I was in the trenches of online deals, researching, comparing prices, looking up best toys of the year by age group and all sorts of things.
Silas and Cannon were easy. They are three and four and I
knew the kind of things they like to do and play with. Reeve, my one year old,
was harder. When I was thinking about what he would like, I really didn’t know
for sure. He is so quiet, so easy, that I couldn’t even think what he would
want. He usually just plays in the cabinets or with his brothers following
them around. Before I bought anything for him, I wanted to observe him and see
what kind of toys he liked best. I found my opportunity when he woke up from
his nap while the other two were still sleeping. After a little while I put him
down on the floor, surrounded with toys, and watched what he gravitated to. He
just sat there looking up at me probably wondering why I was just standing
there. After a little bit of him not doing much of anything I showed him his
talking dog with lights; he was not impressed. I gave him a book; he took a bite
of the corner then tossed it. I zoomed a car over to him and he looked at it,
smiled, then crawled on. He would pick up a toy, put it in his mouth then toss
it. No one toy was really standing out as a favorite.
I looked at the clock and saw I had an hour before the other
two woke up from their nap. I had major chores backed up that I desperately
needed to do. As I looked at the happiest baby in the world and thought about
the mountain of clothes that needed folding, I knew I had a decision. It was a
no-brainer… I chose the baby. It was the best decision of the day. I decided to
get down on the floor with him to see what other toys I could find. As soon as
my bottom hit the floor I realized how rarely I do that with him. When he saw
me on the floor, he actually squealed with delight and crawled as fast as he
could over to me. I then got on my hands and knees and crawled all over his
room chasing him and letting him chase me. His belly laughs made it so worth
while. I had no other thoughts besides just loving on him. After the beating on
my knees, I keeled and played peek-a-boo just to see that beaming smile, hear
those squeals, take in his adoration and give him mine.
After several “peak-a-boos,” he crawled right over and began
climbing on me. I think he was trying to reach the top of the Mommy
Mountain-giggling all the way to the top. The pulls, pokes, jabs, yanks and
drooling were his way of showing me that he loved me… and I was loving every
second of it. I had an epiphany right there and then in the middle of the
nursery, with a foot in my bra and a stream of drool flowing down my neck- I’m
it! I’m his favorite toy! He could have a hundred different ‘Voted best toy of the
year with five star rating’ toys and nothing would make his eyes sparkle like
when he’s able to chase his crawling Mama on the floor. I had such a heartwarming time with my baby. I didn’t think I could love him more than I already did, but
getting on the floor with him and playing made me remember how special of a kid
he is and how much I love and adore him. I knew what I was going to get Reeve
for Christmas… more purposed play time with Mama, which will inadvertently be my
Christmas gift too.
The whole experience playing on the floor with Reeve
reminded me of the last time I went to a local bookstore. When I went through
the ‘Christian living’ aisle, I looked up at the seemingly miles long wall of
devotions. I thought about buying one, and then decided against it since I already
have several. I thought to myself, ‘I
want more of God, but not necessarily
more books about God.’ As I continued my walk down the
aisle, I felt so overwhelmed. There were figurines, Scripture plaques, framed
photographs with Christian quotes, beautiful journals, books, mints, belts- you
name it. In the same way Reeve was in a room full of all sorts of toys but only
wanted to play with me; I was surrounded by wonderful God related resources and
the only thing I really wanted, the only thing that would make my eyes sparkle
and my soul content, was to be in the presence of my Father. There is no
substitute, no tangible means that ever comes close to relationships. What
perfect timing God chose to share this with me- in the middle of the gift
purchasing process, when my mind and heart needed reminding that the gifts are
just tools that help build the relationship, not a substitution of it.
