Christmas is coming! It is the most wonderful time of the year! Even the unsaved are singing about the Lord! During this season, you are able to freely say, “Merry Christmas,” to everyone you meet! Use this season to tell of the Reason for Christmas.
Raising our children, we took the opportunity to speak of Christ, especially at Christmas. After all, it is HIS birthday! Here are just a few ideas to lift up the Lord:
Read the Christmas story and discuss it every year. Do not assume that your children know the facts. As our children grew to be school age, we would try to quote these verses rather than read them. The children always did a better job at this than the adults!
Use objects, such as a Christmas tree, to apply spiritual principles (Deuteronomy 11:19). We have used the Christmas tree in the following way:
- Tree—Jesus died on a ‘tree’ for us (Galatians 3:13).
- A star or an angel is usually at the top of a tree—both pointed others to Christ.
- Ornaments—we as Christians are ornaments of His grace as His workmanship (Ephesians 2:10).
- Lights—Jesus is the Light of the world (John 8:12), and we are to let His light shine through us to this dark world (Matthew 5:16).
- Gifts under the tree—God gave His own Son for us (John 3:16); we ought to give to those we love (Proverbs 3:27). Remember to think of others before yourself. Make a list of people to whom your family can be a blessing. Even give a gift anonymously to someone in need. A few years in a row, we made a basket of items, put it on a doorstep, rang the doorbell and then hid to watch the recipients open the door with surprise. As far as I know, our children never gave away our secret.
Sing the old Christmas hymns and carols that speak of the Lord’s coming. They are rich in doctrine and should not be forgotten for the next generation. Study the history of how or when they were written. Here are a few:
- Silent Night
- Away in a Manger
- Joy to the World
- O Come, All Ye Faithful
- God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
- O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
- Thou Didst Leave Thy Throne
- Hark, the Herald Angels Sing
- Angels We Have Heard on High
- Angels from the Realms of Glory
- It Came Upon a Midnight Clear
- There’s a Song in the Air
- The First Noel
- While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks
- O Little Town of Bethlehem
- What Child Is This?
- We Three Kings
Although there are “wintery” songs like Jingle Bells and Frosty the Snowman that may be fun to sing too, be sure to sing those songs that tell of the real meaning of Christmas.
Help your children by teaching them not to expect large, expensive gifts for themselves. Avoiding the commercialization of Christmas is really up to us as Christian parents, Christian church workers, and teachers. We love watching “It’s a Wonderful Life” and Little House on the Prairie Christmas episodes to keep simple gifts in perspective.
