Memorable day at school prompts 5-year-old’s ‘best gift ever’

This paid piece is sponsored by Bishop O’Gorman Catholic Schools.

By Karin Brashler

“Mom, guess what I got today?”

He doesn’t pause for me to guess.

“I got a present! And it’s the best present in the whole world!”

I hear this as I walk in to pick my 5-year-old up from after-school care.

He’s so very excited as he sprints over to me, and I’m trying really hard to show enthusiasm for what I’m convinced is another plastic ring or sticker inside this tiny white cardboard box.

Then, he opens it, still smiling and trying not to bounce all over, and he pulls out a tiny figurine of baby Jesus.

“Mom, I got baby Jesus! Did you know he’s the best present in the whole world?”

I smiled and responded with enthusiasm that I did not have to fake: “Wow, that really is the best present in the whole world! Who gave you the baby Jesus?”

Usually, he’s pretty quiet or immediately asks for food when I pick him up after school at Christ the King Elementary.

But this day, on the entire drive to pick up his sister, he proceeded to talk my ear off about what they learned in school about Jesus and Christmas. He explained to me that Jesus was given to all of us, and we celebrate that gift at Christmastime.

When we picked up his sister, before I even had her strapped into her car seat, he opened up his little box and nearly shouted with joy: “Do you want to see baby Jesus? He’s the best present in the whole world!”

Once we got home, he ran upstairs to place baby Jesus on his shelf of special things, the one with his favorite dinosaur and his favorite Pokemon. Throughout the evening, he would pull him down to look at him and talk about the gift of Jesus.

By the end of the night, he was convinced that the little white box baby Jesus came in was just not safe enough. He was too important, and he was going to get squished if he was stepped on — a real possibility in our house. So he dug out his best Pokemon ball, the one he can open himself and attach to his belt, and placed Jesus in the ball so if anyone stepped on him, he wouldn’t get hurt.

As I’m sure other parents can relate, we have spent what feels like countless hours talking to our little guy about the real reason for Christmas and the joy of giving. But how do we know that we’re getting through to him? I feel like as soon as Halloween ended, all he has talked about are the toys he wants from Santa, what cookies we get to eat, the coming snow for snowmen, decorating the Christmas tree and hot chocolate. Occasionally, he reminds us that his little sister is going to need some presents too. All of these things are fun aspects of the Christmas season, but they aren’t the real reason for the season.  

It’s pretty amazing how the half-hour presentation that the Sisters of Pro Ecclesia Sancta gave to the kindergartners and first graders at Christ the King Elementary made all the difference.

These incredible women are a consistent, powerful presence at Bishop O’Gorman Catholic Schools. They primarily work with O’Gorman Junior High and High School students, but they have extended their mission into the six Catholic elementary schools this year as well.

This holiday season, they visited every kindergarten and first grade class to talk about Jesus being the best gift ever this coming Christmas because he loves us so much. They spoke to the students about preparing their hearts for the Advent season so we can welcome Jesus into our hearts.

And, as my little guy proved, the students listened. It wasn’t just Mom saying for the millionth time that Christmas is for Christ. The idea of preparing our hearts during Advent to welcome Jesus into our hearts was shared in a new and exciting way.

We all have many choices when it comes to who teaches our kids, and there’s much more I could say about the positive experience our family has had at Bishop O’Gorman Catholic Schools.

But this most recent one was a gift worth sharing.