In a culture where Christians are marginalized and mocked for believing in the miracle of salvation through Christ alone, it’s sometimes difficult to remember to keep our families focused on Jesus at Christmastime. How do you do it? I’d love to hear your ideas. Share them at ParentMinute.org. For the Yoder clan, it starts at the Christmas tree. The top of the tree is dedicated to focusing on the Christmas story. Angels told the world of Jesus’ birth. Manger scenes and characters of that first Christmas top our tree. A nail near the trunk of the tree reminds us Jesus came to die for our sins. Then, we read sections of the Christmas story each Sunday during Advent. Make it a tradition in your family. It’ll be something they’ll never forget.
Suggested Reading: Luke 2, Isaiah 9:6-7
My kids are small, so our Christmas traditions are still evolving, but it has been important to me to stress that it is not about “getting stuff” or Santa and snowmen, but a birthday party and one where we celebrate by giving to others and enjoying meaningful time together. We do this in several ways:
1) we have made advent ornaments, each with a family activity for us to do together in the evening (like make cookies to give away, deliver those cookies the following day, sing Christmas songs together, “camp” in mom and dad’s room)
2) We put together some small baskets of holiday treats and deliver them to our neighbors, “to show them Jesus” and His love
3) We have a “birthday cake” (cinnamon rolls with a candle) for Jesus on Christmas morning and a traditional Brazilian birthday treat called Brigadeiros (to help reinforce the understanding that it is a birthday celebration)