"Love Jesus the way He asks you to. Don't worry about the formulas or making Jesus part of the season too much. If Jesus is important to your heart, He will be foremost in the Advent/ Christmas season."
Part 2: I asked friends, family & acquaintances about how they keep CHRIST in CHRISTmas. Here are some ideas:
- "Our church bought Advent devotionals, boughs, decorations & candles for each family to make their own Advent wreath. This was the jump start that got us started on year-round devotions. If we slacked off on devotions, the Advent wreath got us back on track each year." I love this. Yes, parents must have a vested interest, but I know in my own life I have benefited greatly from resources and nudges from others.
- Have manger scenes be the focus of your Christmas decor, along with other pieces that point to Christ. Some families have an expensive manger scene that they add a piece to each year. (Oh, wouldn't I love a Willow Tree one!!) Have at least one manger scene that children can play with. Fisher-Price Little People set. Homemade wooden blocks with figures painted on them. Stuffed animal creche. There are many options. The goal is so that when someone enters your home they know Who is being celebrated.
- Read Luke 2. This was mentioned a lot. Other Scriptures too, including Isaiah's prophecies. Many people responded that before presents could be opened, prayer was said & Luke 2 was read.
- Giving. Helping others is how we show the love of Christ. Bake & give gifts to neighbors, friends & family. Be intentional about getting to know neighbors. Have the children make homemade cards for them. Help those less fortunate. Make a difference within your own community in a way that costs each person. One teacher shared that instead of a classroom Christmas party, her class was donating to and volunteering at a food pantry. (Great idea.) Buy items for Samaritan's Purse & put a representation of these gifts under the tree. Sacrifice your gifts to each other & instead donate that money to an organization such as Samaritan's Purse. One mom came up with the idea of having a sign that said, "What Can I Give the King?" From it hang pouches with the children's names on them. When it is noticed that a child is making God's heart happy by being kind or unselfish, $1 goes in the pouch. At Christmas, this money is used for Heifer International or another worthy organization. Discuss what presents Jesus received & compare that to what we get today. Put your manger scene under the tree because Christ's birth is the best gift of all. Focus more on the giving than the receiving. Emphasize that we have gifts because God gave us Jesus, (the Greatest Gift.) Talk about the gifts we'd like to give Jesus this coming year: Perhaps a better attitude, work ethic, more giving, less selfishness. There are several versions of giving three gifts like the magi did. Some children each receive three gifts on Christmas morning. Some get three gifts: One that they want, one that they need & one that will hep them grow spiritually or educationally. For some families, because of work schedules or plans with extended family, the gift-giving is separate from Christmas, which helps get the focus off "us" and on to Christ.
- Christmas Eve service at church. Christmas messages in the Sundays leading up to Christmas help prepare our hearts. Attending a candlelight Christmas Ever service, no matter where you are, is meaningful. Some people want a Christmas Eve service that will serve communion. In addition to the Christmas Eve service, children's Christmas programs are very meaningful and leave an impression on both those who participate and the audience.
- Christmas Carols & Songs. Sung at church & in your home & listened to. Caroling house to house or in nursing homes.
- Advent Devotionals. There are many, but several were mentioned by name: Anne Hewitt advent cards which are progressive in their reading. Unwrapping the Greatest Gift, (child or adult version), by Ann Voskamp. What God Wants for Christmas, put out by Family Life. Family Celebrations: Meeting Christ in Your Holidays & Family Celebrations by Ann Hibbard, involving a reading, a hymn & an ornament. Thriving Family devotionals. Not a Silent Night by Adam Hamilton. This idea was particular touching because the family has a college student away at school. The student has a copy of the book & reads on her own & whenever she can she skypes with the family to have a group devotional time. Many families are using their own. A few verses each day. For little children, children's books that tell the story of the 3 Trees, or the story of Mary, etc. Last year our family had the theme of Jesus as the Light of the World. We made candles & sang songs & read verses that were about that theme. Before that we did the names of God. 'Ever Thine Home' sells themed ornaments and decorations. Their new item this year is Jesus' name in many languages. Several ideas involve a 'Creation to the Cross' family devotional and/or a Jesse Tree. Typically in an Advent wreath, one candle is added every week.
- One mom came up with one herself. In fact, she had never heard of a Jesse Tree. (I don't think I'm supposed to have 'favorites' among all the ideas I was given, but this may be it!) "We do a mini tree with ornaments I made that represent stories chronologically in the Bible. We called it The Waiting Tree because since Adam people have waited for the Messiah to be born. Each day we told one story and hung that ornament on The Waiting Tree."
- Birthday Cake for Jesus.
- Act out the Christmas story. In your home. At church. In a pageant. Go to live nativities & plays. Do it with puppets, with toys. Have your kids write and act out a version.
- Family activities, that sometimes go along with the devotional. Baby Jesus & Advent- centered crafts.
- One creative mom made snowflakes to adhere to a tree, (red twigs in a Mason jar.) Daily her family will write on a snowflake something that is true about God and put the snowflake on the tree.
- A couple of families mentioned adopting Jewish traditions. One family has incorporated a menorah, to better understand the Jewish heritage that makes up the foundation of our faith. One family is going to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles next year, hopefully even building a booth in their yard, because their research shows that this is the time of year more likely to have been when Christ was born. They anticipate joy at eliminating the distractions of Christmas-time and focusing on Him during the week long feast.
- One family has a Christmas tree with stuffed lambs under it, as a reminder that Jesus is the Lamb of God.
- One family adds hay to a manger for 23 days and on the 24th day baby Jesus arrives in the manger.
- Being thankful. Thankful for Jesus. Thankful that we have been blessed by others. Write thank you notes together as a family.
- Emphasize hope, peace, love & joy. Lose the hype. Keep it small, simple & sentimental. Be intentional about making Christmas less commercial. Don't get caught up in the rush and urgency.
- Even when Christ was not especially emphasized in homes, there was a general understanding that all of parties & the special food & the decorations & the presents- was happening because of a big spiritual event.
- Hope you've found an idea or two that resonates with you.
- Merry Christmas!
No comments:
Post a Comment