I hear you. When I was a youngster in school the teachers would invariably have the kids one by one tell the class what they got for Christmas. I know several told fibs just to say something good.
I vowed as a teacher and administrator that was not going to happen on my watch and even instilled in the kids I had in Sunday School and Kids’ Church not to ask “what did you ‘git’ for Christmas?” For we all have heard the follow-up . . . . “is that all you got?”
I emphasized this every year and they got the message. . .the parents, well that’s another story. Another activity I did with the students in Sunday School/Kids’ Church was to take a hot commodity item and show on the white board how many hours (using minimum wage) a parent/grandparent would have to work just to purchase that item. It was a “wow” moment for many of them.
The birth of Jesus should be in our hearts and minds every day. . .for He was born to die for the sins of the world.
And even yet the idea isn’t one of guilt trips. Most family givers are glad to do it. The idea is to understand the love that went into it.
To gladly receive love from the Lord then gladly share love around to others is the ultimate Christmas spirit.