Grace Garden Preschool

The story of how the candy cane came to be is precious.  My chilldren ask me to tell them about it each year around Christmas.  If you don't know it, read on...

The candy cane had to be special to be a gift for the King of Kings, thought the humble candy maker from Indiana who created this Christmas staple. Not just any piece of candy would do. It had to be hard candy because the church is built on solid rock and God's promises are a firm foundation.

It would be formed in the shape of the Good Shepherd's staff. A "J" that would
also stand for the precious name of Jesus, the son of God.  But it had to say more.
White stripes would symbolize the pure nature of Jesus's birth. The red stripes help remind us of the love that God has for us.  It would be a gift of love that would tell His story - the greatest story ever told.

Have a sweet and wonder-filled holiday,
Ms. Kym

It’s often said that the notion of Santa and the story of Jesus's birth just don't mix. Santa represents commercialization, greed, our need for more. Jesus would be appalled at what Christmas has become, these holiday purists say, and that’s probably true. But I do believe there is a place for Santa when we talk about Jesus, and for me, it boils down to gold, frankincense and myrrh.

The three kings of Orient, the Magi, the three Wise Men. There are different names for and stories about these men who came from the East to visit Jesus after his birth. Many believe they traveled to the manger to pay tribute to the newborn king. Others say it was several years after his birth that these visitors paid homage to the young Jesus.  Tradition says they were kings, biblical scholars believe they were astrologers.  There were three, or perhaps more – no one is certain. But this much is: They came bearing precious gifts, gifts that are inextricably linked to the Christmas story.

Gift-giving at Christmas has gotten out of control. In our effort to make sure everyone on our list gets something, we do forget the “why” of what we’re doing. Are we buying gifts to honor the newborn king? What would Jesus think about the frenzy that surrounds this time of year? Further, what would Santa think?

The legend of Santa Claus starts with Sinterklaas, who was inspired by a real man named Saint Nicholas who lived in the 4th century. Saint Nicholas gave all he had to the poor, food and money and clothing, to keep them from falling into lives of despair. Nicholas was a selfless, giving man who lived out every day what is means to be a Christian.  It was no surprise that he was canonized – or that he became the inspiration for the bearded man in red.

I think the three wise men and Santa would have a lot to talk about. They’d probably discuss how gifts aren’t meant to fulfill our materialistic needs. They’d shake their heads at our need to buy, buy, buy at the risk of making ourselves exhausted and unhappy. To be sure, they’d want us to remember that when we give gifts, we do so to honor the person to whom we're giving the gift, not to add to their trove of material possessions.

A friend passed along O. Henry’s classic Christmas story, “The Gift of the Magi” for me to read to my children. It’s a beautiful tale of love and sacrifice. At its heart, it captures what Christmas is really about. The true blessing of Christmas, the story teaches us, isn't in the receiving but rather in the giving.

Tomorrow morning at Breakfast with Santa, our kids will get to experience the joy of giving when they bring toys that will be passed along to children who lost everything in the Bastrop fires. It is in this generous and selfless spirit that Santa comes to visit us, and why the wise men traveled so many miles so long ago. The gift of the Magi is the same gift Santa brings every Christmas. It’s the gift of loving others more than we love ourselves.

Fondly,
Ms. Kym

"If I were to establish a primary principle, it would be to constantly allow the child's participation in our lives ... To extend to the child this hospitality, to allow him to participate in our work can be difficult, but it costs nothing. Our time is a far more precious gift than material objects. ~ Dr. Maria Montessori 

I make a mean lemon meringue pie. Truly delicious, if I do say so myself. From the bottom of the crust to the top of the meringue, it’s always a hit. I am no culinary genius, nor a particularly fantastic cook. But I do love baking, and I thank my mother for that.

When I was a kid, Mom always let me work alongside her in the kitchen. She was never too busy to teach me how to bake. For her, making dinner or a pie was a journey to be shared, and she always took me along for the ride. Lovingly, she showed me how to measure and roll the dough for the crust. Patiently, she then stood beside me as I learned the intricacies of baking.  Those memories in Mom’s kitchen are my most cherished because, as Dr. Montessori so eloquently puts it, time is a far more precious gift. Nothing my mother ever gave me meant more.

As we enter this month of "busyness,” let’s make time for our children.  Let them stand alongside us as we bake Christmas cookies and make a mess of the flour.  The floor can be cleaned later, and the pans stacked in the sink. What our children will remember most is the time they spent with us spilling sprinkles on the sugar cookies, not the spotless floor underneath their feet. We have so many things to cross off of our lists, especially during this season.  But far more important than the success of a completed to-do list are the traditions and memories that our children will remember.

I have taught my daughter how to make a lemon meringue pie. She knows how to measure and roll the dough, how much to stir the filling - even how to whip the meringue in to a perfect little peak!  When we are here in the kitchen like this, I know she loves our time together as much I do. And when our lemon meringue pie is finished, it tastes just like it did when I was a girl. The pie is still delicious, but the memories we make along the way are even sweeter.

:)
-Ms. Kym