The holiday season is upon us. Many people have already begun to make plans to visit family and friends, decided on who is hosting family gatherings and asking their children what they want Santa to bring them Christmas morning.
Sadly I think the holiday season has got way too “commercial”. I think a lot of people will agree with me. I mean seriously, our local grocery store had Christmas candy and decorations on the SAME shelves as the Halloween candy. How awful is that? Not only that, what happened to Thanksgiving? Sigh…
I think the real reason behind the holiday has become “lost” behind power shopping at the mall and waiting online for hours for the “must have” toy of the season. Sadly, your child won’t really remember that toy that you searched all over town for and waited on a long line to purchase. What they will remember is the quality time and great memories you made together as a family.
I honestly can’t remember any of the toys I received for Christmas except one. It was a Ballerina Barbie I received when I was about 9 or 10 years old. The only reason why I remember it was because my mom was in the hospital that Christmas. I was not allowed to visit her in the hospital (she was in intensive care) but she did call me on the phone on Christmas Eve to wish me a Merry Christmas. She let me unwrap one toy while I was on the phone with her. It was that Barbie doll. That is why I can remember that specific toy.
When I think about Christmases from my past I can only remember the things my family did together that was special, like how my great-grandparents would come over Christmas morning for a big breakfast and how excited I was when my father would retrieve our giant light up Santa and Frosty from the attic, which means it was time to decorate. I also remember how we did the “Elf on a Shelf” thing long before it became popular like it is today.
I place a lot of sentimental value on certain items in my possession. My family now owns the giant light up Santa and Frosty, which we display every year (even though Frosty has seen better days). I also have my Elf from when I was a young girl and many ornaments and holiday décor that belonged to my parents. I cherish these items.
I have the manager that belonged to my mom and dad too. It’s very old. The bottom of some of the figures have prices on them such as .30 cents and .50 cents. They are VERY old pieces that were imported from Italy. They are all in great shape, even for being about 60+ years old.
We also have my mother in law’s manager that we also display. It’s not as old as mine but it has sentimental value to my husband.
Jesus is the reason for the season so it’s very important for us to celebrate his birth with a nativity, along wit more traditional holiday décor. It’s a reminder of what the holiday season is all about. It’s not so much about getting gifts as it is giving to others and good will towards others. It’s a reminder that we need to think of others and be kind and giving whenever possible
There is a wonderful new product available that will help families teach their children about the real reason for the season and how it’s not all about getting gifts. It’s called The Good Deed Manger.
The Good Deed Manger is a book and plush toy set. It comes with a book, a plush donkey, a manger, “hay” and a cute baby Jesus.
The beautifully illustrated book is about a donkey named Jordan. Jordan lives in Bethlehem. He comes across the pregnant Mary and Joseph and invites them to stay in the stable with him and his animal friends.
Jordan doesn’t want the baby to come into the world with no place cozy and comfy to sleep so Jordan and his friends gather up all the hay they can find to make a comfortable bed for the newborn baby. When Jesus is born the manger is full of hay. Jordan’s selfless act of kindness does not go unnoticed. Baby Jesus is so happy that Jordan and friends were kind to him and repay their kindness with a smile.
The purpose of the book is to teach children about doing for others during the holiday season and not focus on the toys and tech items they want Santa to bring them from their wish list.
To teach and encourage children to do good for others, The Good Deed Manger set comes with an empty manger with felt “hay” strands. Baby Jesus can not arrive into this world on Christmas day to an empty manger. In order to add hay to the manger to make it comfortable a child needs to do a good deed. For each good deed a child does they are given a piece of “hay” to place in the manger. The idea behind this is to encourage children to do many good deeds before Christmas day so that the manger is filled with “hay”. Then on Christmas morning before your child awakes place the plush baby Jesus into the manger so your child can see they created a comfortable place for baby Jesus.
Although this is geared towards younger children I personally feel that the entire family can take part in this. It’s a beautiful activity for the whole family. Not only does it remind us to do good for others, but it also means that others are benefiting from the good deeds your family does.
Good deeds don’t have to be huge. They can be simple things like shoveling the walkway for an elderly neighbor, or donating a toy to a children’s charity. Even doing a siblings chores for them without being asked could be considered a good deed. All deeds would qualify for a piece of “hay” – big or small.
I LOVE this idea. It’s a wonderful idea that can become a family tradition. It’s also a great way for families to work together and create wonderful memories that will last a lifetime.
The book is beautifully illustrated. I LOVE the donkey and baby Jesus. They are very well made. I can see the donkey quickly becoming a family favorite (baby Jesus shouldn’t make his appearance until Christmas morning). They is made out of thick felt so the set can be reused over and over again for many years to come.
The Good Deed Manger can be purchased as a complete set for $39.99. You can also purchase book, mange and donkey separately.
For more information or to make a purchase visit www.TheGoodDeedManger.com. You can also connect with The Good Deed Manger on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.
One lucky reader will win the complete The Good Deed Manger set (book, donkey and manger) compliments of the wonderful people from The Good Deeds Manager.
This giveaway is open to U.S. residents only and will end on November 22, 2014 at 11:59 PM (EST). The winner will be chosen a random using a random number generator. The winner will be notified via email and will have three days to reply or a new winner will be chosen in their place.
To enter please comment on this post and tell me why you want to win The Good Deed Manger?
For extra entries you can the Rafflecopter widget (below) but you must complete the initial entry requirement or the extra entries won’t qualify. I do check.
Kimberly
*I received a free product sample in order to do this review. There was no compensation. The opinions expressed are my own and not influenced in any way.
Maralea says
I would love this to read to my grandkids. Such a cute set.
Denise S says
I’d love this because its so cute and I’d give it to my kids to decorate their room.
Patricia Wojnar Crowley says
I’d love to win, because we used to do this when I was little! (except we made a manger out of popsicle stick and used yarn for hay!)
Trish white says
I totally agree about the Christmas becoming too commercial. Every year I stress about making sure my kids have “enough” {read more than enough} I would love to start this tradition for my kids while they are young.
Carrie says
I would LOVE to have this for my children! We have never done the “Elf on the Shelf” because I don’t want to encourage the whole-“If you’re good I’ll give you presents!” thing. And we have always felt like we were missing out on something sorta fun! This would give us (and others) the opportunity to still have that element of fun, but instead of focusing on themselves and the whole “gimme gimme gimme” attitude, it would focus on GIVING to others. LOVE IT!
D Schmidt says
I would like to win because I know this is something my children would really appreciate.
Vicki Wurgler says
very cute I’d love this for my granddaughter
Ken Ohl says
my little niece would love this
Jane (EJ) says
I’d love to start a new tradition with my Little a Girl, just for her. All our other traditions were started many years ago with my sons.
Kimberly Schotz says
Our family really values holiday traditions and this sound like a lovely one to start.
Monique Rizzo says
Because my niece would love it.
Angela W says
My children would love this because it is a visual tool they can see instead of just reading about it.
Robin Abrams says
I would love to win this set for my grandkids it is so cute
Jessamine D. says
I’d like to win this because it’s a nice decoration for Christmas and the book looks like a nice bedtime story for my girls. 🙂
Kelly D says
I would like this because my daughter and I would enjoy setting it up and reading the book.
Jennifer Zelazny says
Great alternative to Elf on the Shelf! I’d love to start this tradition with my 3 year old.
Lisa says
I love this idea. Always looking for great ways to put ‘Christ’ back in ‘Christmas’. I’ve been looking for the perfect idea to give to family members this year and I think my nieces and nephews would love this.
Natalie S says
This is so cute – I would love to do this together with my kids and tell the story of Christmas.
heather says
I went to win for a friend’s child too cute.
Rebecca Xavier says
I would love to win this for my daughters. The concept behind this is wonderful and helps to focus on the true meaning of Christmas.
beth shepherd says
I would love to win for my children. Thank you
Paula Michele Hafner says
I would love to win because this would be a fun tradition to start with my son. He would love it.
Sadie B. says
I would love to have this set to remind my girls how little deeds make the season bright!
Jill Myrick says
I would love to win this to use in the Christmas decorations in our home this year.
jweezie43[at]gmail[dot]com
Sharon says
I would love this set! I coordinate a family program at my parish and we have done a good deeds craft each year. I would love to add this to the parish’s lending resources for the families to borrow.
Lindsay McCain says
I would like to win this for my daughter.
April bever says
I would love to win this, our family is always looking for new traditions
shawna says
This would be great to help reinforce the true meaning of Christmas for my kids,
Karen Gonyea says
I would like to win because it looks like a beautiful story.
Karen Drake says
I would love to win this for my granddaughter, I love the idea of the children and family members doing good deeds, it reflects the true meaning of Christmas.
Carmen N says
I would love to win because it focuses on the real story of Christmas
Beverly Metcalf says
This is nice. I would love to give it to my little granddaughter. Thanks!
Hollie Jahnke says
This is so precious and I would love to have it in our house at Christmas. My daughter would love it too.
Sand says
I would like to win because I think it would be a great learning tool for my nephew.
Lisa Vanhook says
To give to my brand new niece.