Rediscover the Heart of the Holiday Season by Teaching Children the Biblical Joy of Generosity
As Christmas draws near, I find myself reflecting on the unique opportunity we have to guide our children in understanding what joyful giving truly means. During a season often filled with the busyness of Christmas parties, seemingly endless shopping and curated (read: utterly unattainable!) décor aspirations, it’s easy to overlook the heart of this holiday — celebrating the gift of Jesus and learning to share that gift with others. There is no better time than now to introduce our kids to a Biblical view of generosity, modeled after the One who gave everything for us.
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The Christmas season gives us a chance to remind our families of the profound joy that comes not from receiving but from giving. In Acts 20:35, NIV, we’re reminded that Jesus said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” This simple but powerful truth speaks directly to our hearts as parents. God calls us to be givers, reflecting His love through our acts of kindness, generosity and service. By showing our kids how to give with grateful hearts, we can help them find joy that goes beyond the fleeting excitement of gifts and into something lasting — a life rooted in service to others.
Joyful Giving
Generosity. Selflessness. Altruism. Charity. All are terms that our minds tie to the idea of joyful giving. In the holiday season, a more nostalgic vision might come to mind — the look of glee on the face of a girl who just opened a box to find a puppy inside, the tears of joy from a grandma surprised by family visiting from far off homes, or even the excitement of children crafting just the right macaroni ornament mom and dad are sure to love.
Guiding our girls to see the value of giving starts first with the realization of the gifts they’ve been given. If everything we have comes from the Lord — our gifts of time, talent and treasure — then it’s not a far leap to say that everything we have is the Lord’s.
To give joyfully is to fully embody the call of John 13:34-35, to love our neighbor so intentionally that the world would know us to be followers of Christ. Joyful giving is the result of a heart overflowing with the grace and love of God, able to be freely given, and done so in alignment with the gifts of the Holy Spirit — according to Galatians 5:22-23 that’s love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Christ-followers are called to give of our own free will — not out of guilt or compulsion for attention — but out of a desire to spread the grace, mercy and love of God here on earth.
5 Life Lessons
Here are five lessons of joyful giving every parent should teach their kids this Christmas:
- ‘Tis the season to be jolly, not greedy.
- Jesus is the reason for the season and why we give.
- Family is a gift during the holiday season.
- Advent almsgiving is about more than money.
- They’ll know we are Christians by our love this Christmas.
At American Heritage Girls, we understand the importance of fostering these values early on. Teaching our children to give isn’t just about instilling good habits; it’s about helping them develop a holistically Christ-like character. When we give, we not only bless others, but we grow closer to God as we follow His example. This Christmas, I encourage you to look for ways to incorporate meaningful acts of giving into your family traditions. Whether it’s volunteering at a local outreach organization, creating homemade gifts for neighbors or simply practicing generosity in everyday situations, each act of kindness can make a difference.
As we gather with family and friends this holiday, let’s remember the incredible gift of Jesus, sent as an expression of God’s boundless love for us. By keeping Christ at the center of our giving, we not only honor His sacrifice but model a life of gratitude and selflessness for our girls. I pray that, as your family celebrates this season, your hearts will be filled with the peace and joy of Christ.
Patti Garibay is the founder and executive director of American Heritage Girls, (AHG, www.AmericanHeritageGirls.org), a national Christ-centered leadership and character development program. For nearly three decades, AHG has been at the forefront of countering the culture by leading girls and women to create lives of integrity. Patti is the author of Why Curse the Darkness When You Can Light A Candle?, a story of trust and obedience to inspire those who desire to make Kingdom impact yet struggle with the fear of inadequacy. Patti is the host of the Raising Godly Girls (RGG) podcast and “Raising Godly Girls” one-minute radio feature which helps to equip, affirm and strengthen girls with timely Scripture-based advice.
