The Joy of Heartwarming Gifts
In our beloved Bliss Base, where love and togetherness always thrived, the most wonderful time of the year was fast approaching — Christmas. This year was special, as we, the big family, had decided to change the way we celebrated the holiday. Instead of exchanging traditional physical presents, we wanted to give each other something truly heartfelt — positive feedback and expressions of love.
Our children were particularly excited about this new tradition. They had always loved the festive season, with its twinkling lights, the scent of freshly baked cookies, and the anticipation of opening presents. But this year, the focus was shifting from material gifts to the gift of love and appreciation.
Here are five tips on how we embrace this heartwarming change and plan to make Christmas even more special for our family:
Introducing the Idea: At one of our usual dinner nights, chatting through every days, I shared our thoughts about the upcoming holiday season. I explained to them the idea of giving the gift of love through positive feedback. They were immediately intrigued and excited to participate, not sure yet, what to expect, but usually being open about the ‘crazy’ ideas I would come up with.
Creating Special Cards: To make the feedback more tangible, we decided to write our thoughts on special Christmas cards. Each family member would receive a set of cards to fill out, one for every other family member. The kids love decorating cards with festive drawings and colours. Of course, this meant a lot of extra work and effort, as the big family is quite extensive, 9 kids all together and 10 adults. This meant a lot of drawing, but I explained, this isn’t about perfection, this is a gesture, and any drawing will bring a smile to anyone’s face of given from the heart.
Discussing the Meaning: We talked about why we were changing our tradition. I explained that material gifts were nice, but they could never truly express the depth of our love and appreciation for each other. Plus, as they were growing older, the type of presents they wanted was less of a Christmas topic and especially not for the rest of the family to purchase. The kids nodded in agreement, understanding that this was a unique way to show how much we cared.
Writing from the Heart: On a cozy evening just before Christmas, we will all sit together to write our messages. They could be filled with memories of their adventures, about what they appreciate in each other, the best moments of the year, what do they miss when they are not together. We will all write heartfelt messages to each other and our children, preparing for the special day.
Christmas Day Surprise: On Christmas morning, instead of tearing open gift-wrapped packages, we will exchange our special cards. The joy and warmth that will fill the room will be immeasurable. We will take turns reading our messages aloud, and there will be tears of happiness, laughter, and heartfelt hugs, I am certain. That will be the moment when they will realize how great it feels to both give and receive positive feedback.
This new tradition, which we are eagerly looking forward to, promises to be a beautiful addition to our family celebrations. It’s a reminder that the essence of Christmas lies not in the material gifts we exchange but, in the love, gratitude, and appreciation we have for one another. As we prepare for this heartwarming day in the future, we can already feel the warmth of the love that will fill our home.
We envision Christmas morning, our smiles radiating with genuine joy, as we exchange our heartfelt messages. The laughter of our children, the sparkle in their eyes as they read words of love from each family member, will create memories that will last a lifetime.
This tradition will teach our kids that love is the most precious gift of all. It will strengthen our bonds, nurture gratitude in our hearts, and remind us of the love we share as a family. While Christmas Day itself has not arrived, we already know that it will be a day filled with love, laughter, and cherished moments.
As we eagerly anticipate this special Christmas celebration, we are grateful for the love that surrounds us and the beautiful future memories we are about to create.
