In seven days, people around the world will be waking up to tear into beautifully wrapped packages to unveil the surprises they receive for Christmas. And while one pastor and his family will be doing the exact same thing, he wants people to take a step back from the gifts and think about the true meaning of Christmas and what it should really be about.
While the gifts are nice, Pastor Ricardo Miller of Ricardo Miller Children's Ministries, headquartered in Dallas, Texas, said Christmas should also be a time to show love and appreciation.
"People often say that [Christmas is] a time to share with family members and friends. As a children's minister, I believe as we prepare for the holiday season that the time is now for us as adults and parents in our community and throughout the world to use Christmas as a time to love and appreciate the children that God has so graciously blessed us with," he said.
"Yes, hundreds of thousands of children will receive Christmas gifts on Christmas Day, but will they receive the love and attention that they so desperately need?"
According to Miller, love to him means spending time with children.
"Oftentimes, I think our priorities are being misplaced when it comes to the season of Christmas; and oftentimes, the focus is put on gift giving and getting and not the time spent or the appreciation that the season can bring to the family," said Miller.
He does not believe people should shun gift giving, but as they go about giving gifts Miller wants people to remember not to make the gift more important than the time they spend with their children.
Miller arrived in town yesterday to open an office of Ricardo Miller Children's Ministries. This is an organization dedicated to helping children discover their purpose and training adults to be better parents. Because of his beliefs, Miller will depart New Providence on Christmas Eve to ensure that he spends Christmas Day with his family, his wife Isha and son Ricardo Miller Jr., in Texas.
The 38-year-old said as a child growing up on Washington Street, he can recall receiving gifts from his mother and going to the carnival with neighborhood friends on Christmas Day. But as an adult, he found himself questioning who and what Christmas is really for. He arrived at the conclusion that it is for the children to whom love should be shown and time spent.
"This Christmas is not a time for us to send our children to the theaters, the carnival, the church or some other special event. It is a time for us to go along with our children and spend quality time with them, showing them what Christmas is all about. We ought not to make the mistake that past generations have made by not giving children the proper time, encouragement and support they need," he said.
And if the true meaning of the Christmas season is celebrated, Miller said people would not get tired or stop trying to change negativity within a family. As times are definitely changing, he said he wants people to remember to not forget the real reason for the season which should be more about celebrating Christ's birth and celebrating, loving and spending time with the family.
"It's not about the gift - it's about family, love. It's about peace. It's about appreciating those around you while recognizing the king of kings and lord of lords. For a child, love is time," he said.
"In the Bible, David as a boy had the opportunity to defeat a giant. Jeremiah was called, as a boy, to be a prophet. Samuel heard the voice of God as a child.
"All three of these individuals grew up to be responsible, caring and loving individuals because someone took the time to give them instruction and to train them up in the way that they ought to go.
"It has been said that our children are too violent, too promiscuous and too destructive. In many ways, our children are suffering from the lack of social interaction with their parents."
With a major portion of the world's population in their teenage years or younger, Miller said there are endless opportunities to influence the course of history if they are reached in time.
"It is important that the children of this generation understand the significance of family time, sharing love, laughter and personal memories together so that when they are adults they will be able to pass on precious memories and examples of good parenting to their children," he said.
He reminded parents that they would get the best out of their children when they give the best of themselves.
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