Every December, children around the world sit down to write letters to Santa Claus. They carefully list everything they want, promise they've been good (at least most of the time!) and hope Santa fulfils their wishes.
Watching this tradition over the years got me thinking. We have our own beautiful traditions, our own festivals and our own way of seeking blessings. So why not create a little tradition of our own?
And that's how the letters to Lakshmiji began in our home.
Every Diwali, I ask my girls to sit down and write a letter to Goddess Lakshmi. Just like children write to Santa, they can tell Lakshmiji what they wish for. They can ask for things they'd love to have, share their hopes for the coming year, seek blessings for their family and, most importantly, thank her for everything they already have. They write letters and place them in the Puja room in our house.
Of course, the wish lists are sometimes quite interesting! Children have their priorities, after all. And I am sure Lakshmiji gets to hear about everything from material wishes to academic ambitions!
But what I love most is seeing the little notes of gratitude tucked between all those requests. It's a small exercise, but it makes them pause and think about what they have, what they value and what they hope for.
As parents, we often talk to our children about gratitude, blessings and being thankful. But sometimes, instead of giving them another lecture, it's better to let them express these feelings in their own little way. As a reward I give them a small silver trinket each year. One year, it was tiny silver earrings, another year it was a silver plated pen and last year I kept it simple to a silver coin.
I don't know if this will ever become a big family tradition, or whether the girls will continue doing it when they grow older. But for now, these handwritten letters are something I look forward to every Diwali.
And who knows? Maybe Santa has some competition!
Dear Lakshmiji, the letters are waiting. We hope you've read them!
