How I keep Christmas Meaningful ~ Part 2 here
Our Santa vs Jesus Story here
Like a lot of people, I used to struggle with "Keeping Christ in Christmas". How does a Christian family keep Christmas meaningful in a such a materialistic world?
Our Santa vs Jesus Story here
Like a lot of people, I used to struggle with "Keeping Christ in Christmas". How does a Christian family keep Christmas meaningful in a such a materialistic world?
Let me give you a little background before I answer that question:
I used to have a 100 year old Victorian house! It had 9-10 foot high ceilings, wood floors, and a wood staircase. I would get a giant Christmas tree and my husband would get a giant Christmas bonus to match! On Christmas morning, gifts would just spill out from under the tree! We had it all! We had a Christmas village, garland, and even animated carolers and angels!
(This is a pic I found that is similar)
As the children grew and our faith grew, we tried
harder to keep Christmas meaningful. We tried
harder to keep Christ in Christmas.
We did things like:
- cut back on the amount of $ we spent on gifts
- read the story about Jesus being born
- went to the Christmas play at church
- made sure the boys knew that gifts come from God
- I had a whole room dedicated to angels, Jesus and several nativity scenes
- we made sure we gave gifts to the poor
- and we filled shoe boxes (Samaritan's Purse)
Soon, that wasn't enough. After a few years of doing that, we still wanted more Jesus so we included Advent stories and lighting Advent candles. That was a special time. We would sit around and read a series of Advent books by Arnold Ytreeide. (You can find them here: Advent stories) These are GREAT stories!
My husband and I would do our Christmas shopping in about 2 nights. That way we didn't spend more than we wished and we didn't get wrapped up in all of the hustle and bustle. Some of what we purchased for our kids actually came from the Salvation Army! Not much hustle and bustle there!That was all nice and the efforts paid off. Our Christmas was about Christ and our kids "got it".
...but that's not the end of the story. God took us to a NEW level. This level is kind of strange to the on lookers. It goes against the grain. It goes against what all of the other good Christians are doing to keep Christ in Christmas.
...but it's so rich. It's so fulfilling. The way I look at things are so Kingdom ~ God's Kingdom!
Interested? Stay tuned for part 2!
How to keep Christ in Christmas ~ Part 2
7 comments:
You brought up a good question and it's one we've struggled with for years. When my kids were younger I tried infusing as much meaning as possible into the holiday and religiously avoided secular aspects.
Now we still, of course, remember Jesus but I've lightened up because celebrating the Christmas baby is something we do all year long. It's a little artificial to try to cram all this meaning and symbolism and specialness into a few short weeks.
So for us that means I do a little more than normal as far as presenting Christian faith and truth to my kids but not much more as this faith is something we try to live out every day of the year.
I love that this is something you've thought through and have sought to be intentional in making Christmas meaningful for your children. I look forward to Part 2.
Hi!
I am your newest follower! This is a wonderful post, i look forward to the next part. :-) Hope you'll stop by and consider following me back!
Blessings,
Jill
http://blessingsofastayathomemom.blogspot.com
Thank you so much for stopping by my blog and for your kind words! Following you back!
Blessings!
Melanie
So glad I read this. I struggle with these same things with my family. I beg them year after year...let's not buy each other presents, let's bless a poor family instead! Hubby and I bless orphans and poor people, but my kids don't, heavy sigh. But I know God is faithful to bring about the changes...
Looking forward to the next part! I plan to link up for Hearts on Fire Friday, too. What a great idea. blessings on your day!
we do a lot related to giving people in need gifts and clothes too. it's always more gratifying and I can tell it moves my daughter too.
Swati
I look forward to part 2! This is a great post and something we're trying to incorporate more of into our celebrations in December!
Jackie
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