With Christmas coming up before we know it I thought I would link up some resources we have used or come across over the years that have helped us as a family focus on the true meaning of season.
We have always given our children three gifts at Christmas based on the example of the three gifts presented to Christ by the wise men. My friend Tricia posted some neat thoughts about what each of those gifts might represent.
For many years, we have used these advent stories. I think this is our third time to read through this series. Each day the story ends with a cliffhanger, leaving the children anxious to read the next part the following evening. The first time we read the first book in the series with our children I will confess, I had to peek and see what happened. I could not wait until the next evening to find out.
We have never actually used the Jesse Tree, but I have read a lot about it. It looks like a great way to keep our focus on the true meaning of the Holiday. Rocks in My Dryer had a post about this today.
Well, that’s about it for now. Leave a comment about your family traditions that help keep your family focused on the real meaning of the season.
Originally posted 2008
Well this is the first year that our oldest will be aware of everything going on. I’ll list out what we’ll do:
*Advent Family Nights (got this through a holiday session with our small group leaders, I retyped it up, but I have to find out if it’s copyrighted before I share it)
*Our gifts to God (spiritual matters we want to improve on through the year)
*Advent Calendar (I made ours and when you open each flap there is a Bible verse to read about the coming of Christ)
*Birthday Party for Jesus
*We are still nailing down specifics on the gifts but we may go with: what they want, what they need, what we want them to have
Happy Holidays!
I am loving all these ideas and resources! One thing I remember my mom doing that really helped my little sister and I understand the meaning of Christmas was make a birthday cake for Jesus. The cake was made in the shape of a star, like the star the wise men followed. We got to help her (and lick the bowl!). We sang “Happy Birthday” to Jesus and had a piece of our cake before bed on Christmas Eve. Since we celebrated Jesus’ birthday just like we celebrated our own, we understood. Later, of course, a more mature understanding was developed, but this small act really hit home when we were small.