The Gift of Legacy

09. December 2013 · 3 comments · Categories: Christmas

I looked down at the pile of presents at my feet. Boxes and bags of all shapes and sizes sat waiting for me to explore their gems hidden within. We took our time, each of us taking turns opening our gifts. We oohed and ahhed at each other’s new trinkets and treasures. As the stack of presents got shorter, the pile of torn wrapping paper got higher.

“Open that one first,” my mother in-law pointed. I picked up a bag labeled #1. Reaching inside, I felt a small glass container. I pulled out a mason jar from the bag. Strips of white paper with words written on them filled the glass.

I knew just what it was.

“I can’t believe it!” I exclaimed. “You saved this all these years?”

Thirteen years ago, in graduate school and stretched for money, I wanted to give family members a meaningful present for Christmas. Always interested in family history and as the keeper of all the old photos of my ancestors, I decided to give a gift that would tell me more about both mine and my husband’s family. That Christmas, I gave them legacy jars. I typed up a list of questions for them to answer about their past and gave them a journal to record the answers. Fifty-two questions in all; one to answer each week of the year. My hope was to receive back the completed journal to pass down to the children I hoped to have one day.

Time passed. Life happened. There were moves, marriages, births, surgeries, and travels.

When my children were born I had a renewed desire to find a way to document family stories. I interviewed one of my grandparents and wrote down his responses. When my other set of grandparents passed away a couple of years ago, I felt a greater urgency to learn more about the people in our family. And then there was that mason jar I gave my mother-in-law, still out there waiting…

 

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Christmas is a season of waiting and of anticipation. Waiting, while hard, is often rewarded with the most wondrous of things. And after waiting for my mother-in-law’s story, last Christmas I opened the other bag, labeled #2, and inside was the journal I had given her all those years before. Inside the journal I found her story typed out and glued onto each page. She had answered my questions, recorded her story in words, and gave me her legacy to pass on to my children.

It was the perfect gift and well worth the wait.

The gift of legacy is one of the best gifts we can both give and receive. The stories of our lives, of how we came to be who we are today, are priceless. Christmas is a time of celebrating and remembering when God entered our story and became Immanuel, God with us. Sharing with those we love the stories of how we fit into God’s great story helps them see the thread of redemption woven into the tapestry of their own life. It helps them consider the chapters in their own lives and how God has penned their place in his grand true tale of rescue. When it comes to giving gifts, giving of ourselves and sharing who we really are, where we’ve come from and what God has done in us, is really the best gift of all.

Want to make your own legacy jar? Click here for a list of questions to include in your jar.

Teach Me Jesus Thursday: Because it’s More Blessed to Give

05. December 2013 · 1 comment · Categories: Christmas, Teach Me Jesus

008 “I wish we could get a cow,” I heard my son say from the living room. “What?” I responded, not sure I had heard him right. I turned off the water at the sink where I stood washing dishes. “A cow costs too much. But we could get chickens.” He held up the World Vision gift catalog for me to see. “Oh. Yes, a cow is much more than you guys have saved” I said, thankful that he didn’t actually want a cow of his own. Each year my boys save their change and then buy a present for Jesus. Last year, they filled out this printable I found online, a letter to Jesus, telling him that they wanted to save their money to help the least of these. We recently counted up the money they saved over this year and talked about how they wanted to use it. My son found the World Vision gift catalog that had just come in the mail and browsed through all the ways they could help those in need. I also told them about an opportunity we had to join friend’s of our ours who recently moved to Nicaragua in reaching out to the poor in their small coastal village. In the end, the boys chose to divide their money between chickens and helping provide for needs in a remote Nicaraguan village. This time of year can be hard for children to keep their hearts focused on others. They are bombarded with commercials and ads telling them they need the latest toys and gadgets. Soon, they forget that it is Christ we are celebrating and not ourselves. Developing family traditions that involve intentional giving to those in need can help turn our children’s focus from themselves to others. In our family, it is something we talk about all year as my children fill their special money jar for giving at Christmas time. We also put together a shoebox filled with toys and necessesities for Samaritan’s Purse to give to a child in need. On December 6, we like to pretend to be St. Nicholas (December 6 is traditionally St. Nicholas Day) and fill stockings with needed items and give them to a shelter or some ministry that serves those in need. We receive catalogs from a number of ministries that serve those in need around the world. I like to leave those lying around so that we will browse through them (maybe instead of toy catalogs!) and be thinking about what we can buy for someone else. Truly, the options for giving are endless. shoebox Here are a few more thoughts and ideas on giving: 1. Shop ministry catalogs together as a family: Compassion, World Vision, Samaritan’s Purse, Blood Water Mission. They give opportunities to purchase medicine, access to water, animals, education and more. 2. Sponsor a child together as a family through Compassion or World Vision. 3. Participate in an Angel Tree gift giving event. 4. Donate to a missionary or ministry organization as a family. 5. If money is tight, donate time instead. There are many ministries that need able bodies and hands to do the work it takes to serve those in need. Or offer to help do yard work, house repairs or some other job for an elderly or sick person that you know. 6. Donate gently used toys and books to a local ministry. Have your children go through what they don’t use anymore and take them to a ministry that will give them to children in need. 7. Bake cookies or some other treat and take them to a shut in, nursing home, or to a lonely neighbor. 8. There’s a cute little book for young ones called Why We Give Gifts at Christmas Time where children in a classroom share with one another the Biblical reasons for giving to others.*

*I received this book for free in exchange for sharing it here.

Five Things to Teach Your Children This Christmas

03. December 2013 · Write a comment · Categories: Christmas, Teach Me Jesus

“Mom, I need to add something to my Christmas wish list.”

It’s that time of year again. The stores are adorned with all things red and green. Mailboxes and inboxes are filled with ads, sales, and catalogs. Prettily wrapped packages are at the forefront of nearly everyone’s minds — especially kids’.

Christmas provides a wonderful opportunity to pour the truths of the gospel into the hearts of our children. It’s an ideal time to show them the greatest gift they could ever receive, the gift of Jesus Christ.

Below is a list of important truths to teach our children this Christmas:

1. The Story of Redemption

During Advent, with the anticipation of the 25th, we can teach and prepare our children for the celebration in Scripture of Jesus’s birth. In our family, we like to begin with the story of Creation and daily walk through the story of redemption until we get to Christ’s birth on Christmas day. We talk about the fall and God’s promise of a Savior in Genesis 3:15. We read about his promise to Abraham that he reaffirms throughout the Old Testament. We discuss Moses and the “one greater than Moses” who would come. We read the prophecies in Isaiah. We look at how all of the Bible points to our Redeemer….to read the rest of this post, visit Desiring God, one of my other writing homes.

Thoughts on Advent and Waiting

02. December 2013 · 3 comments · Categories: Christmas, God's still working on me

The signs, tastes, and smells of Christmas are everywhere. Like so many, I always look forward to this time of year. It is a special time of slowing down, of savoring the sweet moments with friends and family and of focusing my heart on Christ and his birth.

The word “advent” means arrival or coming of something anticipated. The weeks preceding Christmas is a time of waiting as we prepare our hearts for the arrival of the Christ child. Like Mary, we “ponder these things” about Christ. We wonder in amazement and marvel with joy that God would take on flesh and enter this messy world of ours. Advent gives us the opportunity to dwell on the Love that arrived in the most unexpected of places, a stable. And it reminds us that we are awaiting the second Advent and Christ’s final return.

Though I love Advent, in reality I am not very good at waiting. In fact, I am a rather impatient person. It drives me crazy when I send my children to put on their shoes and they get distracted during the ten feet they have to walk to get their shoes. I don’t like traffic and I think life would be better if the grocery store opened a lane just for me when I arrive with my shopping cart to check out.

I’m not alone. This preference for life to move at a steady, if not in over-drive pace, is common in our culture. We thrive on instant gratification. We don’t tolerate lines, slow computers, and saving before we buy. Our news and information must come in 140 characters or less or we just won’t read it. Instead of living in and enjoying the moment, we have already passed the moment by, pushing our way into the future.

The Israelites were not keen on waiting either. When Moses went on the mountain to be with God, they grew weary of waiting for his return. They decided that perhaps he had died and left them on their own. So while he was alive and well on the mountain, receiving the law written in God’s own hand, the people were in the valley, constructing a golden calf to worship instead of the one true God.

Too often, this is the story of my own heart. I refuse to wait for God and instead construct idols, false substitutes and counterfeit lovers to fill the void. But I want to wait. I want to be found faithful in the valleys of life. I want to live with restlessness, choosing to wait, rather than creating idols that can never satisfy. I want to cast aside all the cheap imitations and save my appetite for the real thing.

“Not everyone can wait; neither the sated nor the satisfied nor those without respect can wait. The only ones who can wait are people who carry restlessness around with them and people who look up with reverence to the greatest in the world. Thus Advent can be celebrated only by those whose souls give them no peace, who know that they are poor and incomplete, and who sense something of the greatness that is supposed to come, before which they can only bow in humble timidity, waiting until he inclines himself toward us-the Holy One himself, God in the child in the manger. God is coming; the Lord Jesus is coming; Christmas is coming. Rejoice, O Christendome!” -Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Like a fruit picked well before ripeness, rushing through life leaves a sour and bitter taste. Much is missed when we speed through our days in a blur. The truth is, the most important and beautiful things that come from waiting. Seeds planted, then watered and provided sun, grow full and healthy until the harvest. Nine months of pregnancy results in the birth of a precious child. A friendship nurtured over time results in deep trust. When the heart is quiet, contemplative in prayer, and meditates on God’s word, the waiting results in a soul filled full and satisfied.

“Lord Jesus, master of both the light and the darkness, send your Holy Spirit upon our preparations for Christmas. We who have so much to do seek quiet spaces to hear your voice each day. We who are anxious over many things look forward to your coming among us. We who are blessed in so many ways long for the complete joy of your kingdom. We whose hearts are heavy seek the joy of your presence. We are your people, walking in darkness, yet seeking the light. To you we say, “Come Lord Jesus!” (Henri J. M. Nouwen)

I pray that we are those who can wait. I pray for quiet hearts that seek Christ in the midst of tinsel, pretty wrapping paper, parties and wish lists. As we go through Advent, pondering the story of Christmas and awaiting the Christ-child, may it remind us of the waiting we do for his second coming. And when he returns, may he find us faithful, ready to feast on the complete joy found only in him.

How are you at waiting? Are you satisfied by temporary pleasures and imposters or will you wait for the real thing?

Teach Me Jesus Thursday: The Advent Calendar

21. November 2013 · 5 comments · Categories: Christmas, Teach Me Jesus · Tags: ,

“Mom, when will we get out our Advent Box?” my son asked the other day. This is a tradition we have had since he was a baby and one he looks forward to each year.


Do you have any favorite Christmas traditions from when you were a child? Perhaps it is going together as a family to pick out the perfect tree. Maybe it’s the cookies you baked together with your mom. Traditions are important to us. They give us an anchor and bind us together with our family. Traditions make us feel connected and give us a sense of belonging.

In the Bible, traditions were important to God’s people. God instructed them to celebrate certain feasts and festivals each year. These events were to be used to reflect and remind God’s people of all God had done for them. Parents were instructed to use these festivals to teach their children about God and what He had done for His people.

“This is a day you are to commemorate; for the generations to come you shall celebrate it as a festival to the Lord—a lasting ordinance…And when your children ask you, ‘What does this ceremony mean to you?’ then tell them, ‘It is the Passover sacrifice to the Lord, who passed over the houses of the Israelites in Egypt and spared our homes when he struck down the Egyptians.’” Exodus 12: 14, 26-27

Christmas is an opportune time for Christian parents to “teach Jesus” to their children. Teaching them about what Jesus has done is not simply about reading to them the Christmas story, though it is certainly not less than that. It’s an opportunity to show our children how all of Scripture tells us about Jesus, how as The Jesus Storybook Bible puts it, “every story whispers his name.”

There are many different activities and ways to do this. Some families use an Advent wreath (and we have one of those) and some make a Jesse Tree (another great idea). Our favorite Christmas tradition is our “Advent Box.” When I was a child, I remember having an Advent calendar where each day I tore open the door and inside was a piece of chocolate. There is something fun about opening a little door each day to find a hidden surprise.

For our children, we have a wooden Advent Box with twenty-five doors. Inside each door I place an object that relates to what I want my children to learn during the Christmas season. I also place objects that signify an activity we might be doing that day. Since there are so many activities that we do during the holidays (putting up a tree, wrapping presents, baking cookies, sending cards, visiting a live nativity, etc.), I want to use these activities to point my children to Jesus. I also want to use the Advent season to read through the story of redemption with my children. And for each object that they pull out, I have a corresponding Bible passage that we read.

Here are a few examples:

1. I like to start out the first few days focusing on the promised Savior. Day one might have a small apple that will represent the Fall of mankind and the Savior promised in Genesis 3:15. We will read the passage and discuss it. The next day might have a little scroll behind the door. That day we read the prophecies in Isaiah about Jesus’ birth. We talk about how all of the Old Testament points to the promised Savior.

2. I also include objects that tell the story surrounding Jesus’ birth. Examples include: The angel telling Mary about Jesus, Mary’s Song, the journey to Bethlehem, the birth of Jesus, the shepherd’s visiting the manger, etc. (Objects I use might include a small angel ornament, a small sheep, a donkey, etc.)

3. In addition, I like to include passages that speak of why Jesus was born, about His second coming and the great wedding feast. I like to include a small cross and read passages about Jesus’ death. We also enjoy reading books like “The Princes Poison Cup” by R.C. Sproul. Other objects I include are a small trumpet ornament as an object to represent the second Advent and confetti to represent the great wedding feast.

4. For the various activities we do during the holidays, I include an object about the activity and a passage to read. If we are wrapping presents one day, I will put a little bow in the Advent box and we read John 3:16. If we are baking cookies or some other treat, I will include passages about Jesus being the Bread of Life. If we are purchasing gifts to give the homeless or someone else in need, I include a small communion cup and we read the passage from Matthew 25:37. If we plan to drive around looking at Christmas lights that evening, I will include a little light bulb and we will read the verse about Jesus being the light of the world.

The objects I use are really anything I can find that is small enough to fit in the box. Many of them are ornaments. The boys have their own small tree in their bedroom. As they accumulate ornaments throughout Advent, they add them to their tree.

There are a number of different activities to do during the holidays to point our children to Christ. The Advent box is one way we like to keep the focus of the holiday on our Lord.

To see a sample of the passages we read and objects I place in our box, click here. For more inspiration on making your own Advent traditions, see: Treasuring God in Our Traditions and Christmas Out of the Advent Box: Reclaiming Christmas for Fun, Faith and Family

Stay tuned in the coming weeks for more Advent ideas!

How about you? What is your family’s favorite Advent tradition? Please share your ideas!

 

My Prayer for You This Christmas

15. December 2012 · 3 comments · Categories: Christmas

This is my last post for the year. I will spend the next couple of weeks resting in the wonder of a Love that came down to earth as a baby. I hope we will meet again next year to continue in this journey of faith together.

My prayer for you this Christmas, my friends, is that you would experience anew this Love that came down on Christmas. May you pause in stillness and consider the depths of Love that took on flesh for you and for me. Ponder it in your heart, the wonder of a child born to save. Consider what it means that a holy, righteous, infinite God would enter into this sin stained world to rescue us. Behold your Savior and rejoice that God became man-Immanuel, God with us.

And may this Christmas season draw you ever closer to Him.

“Mighty God (Is. 9:6) is the name of this child. The child in the manger is none other than God himself. Nothing greater can be said: God became a child. In the Jesus child of Mary lives the almighty God. Wait a minute! Don’t speak; stop thinking! Stand still before this statement! God became a child! Here he is, poor like us, miserable and helpless like us, a person of flesh and blood like us, our brother. And yet he is God; he is might. Where is the divinity, where is the might of the child? In the divine love in which he became like us. His poverty in the manger in his might. In the might of love he overcomes the chasm between God and humankind, he overcomes sin and death, he forgives sin and awakens from the dead. Kneel down before this miserable manger, before this child of poor people, and repeat in faith the stammering words of the prophet: “Mighty God!” And he will be your God and your might.” -Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Merry Christmas to you and yours!

 

Teach Me Jesus Thursdays: A Heart to Give

13. December 2012 · 4 comments · Categories: Christmas, Compassion International, Teach Me Jesus

Opening the tiny door on the Advent box, he pulls out a plastic communion cup. “Why’s there a cup in here? Are we going to talk about Jesus’ death today?”

Each day of Advent, my boys pull out a tiny object from our Advent box. These objects give them a hint as to what our devotional topic and activity will be that day.

“No. Actually, the cup refers to the passage I’m going to read today.”

I read to them from Matthew 25:

“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ “The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’ (vs. 34-40)

Every Christmas season, my desire is to have my children learn the importance of giving rather than getting. It’s quite difficult in our materialistic culture for children to do that. From advertisements on tv to the catalogues we get in the mail, our children are bombarded with opportunities to make toys and material items idols of their heart. Without a parent’s influence in directing their children’s attention to Christ and his birth, they would spend the entire season dreaming of gifts they will get rather than the Gift they’ve already received.

I want my children to be cheerful givers, to give not because they have to, but because they get to. I want them to give out of the abundance they’ve been given, knowing that they have all they need in Christ. I want them to hold their material things loosely because Christ is more important than any toy.

And I want them to know that the greatest gift they’ve been given is Christ himself.

Some of the things we like to do every year to practice giving:

1. We start the season by filling shoeboxes for Operation Christmas child. I recently learned that if you missed the opportunity to participate this year, you can give virtually by visiting here.

2. Then we shop for the child we’ve chosen from the Angel tree at my son’s school. This year the child we chose was the same age and gender as my son. Giving presents that my son wanted for himself to another child was a good lesson in sacrifice and putting someone else before himself.

3. Since December 6th is St. Nicholas day, the past few years we’ve practiced being St. Nick by giving to others, usually by filling stockings and bringing them to a ministry that serves those in need.This year, the kids filled stockings with toys and treats for local children who are in need. The boys helped pick out everything and filled the stockings themselves.

4. The past few years, just before Christmas, the boys have given gifts to Jesus. Last year, they selected a gift from the Compassion Gift Catalog that they wanted to give to Jesus-water for a family. They saved their change all year and this month we went online and placed our order for it. They then chose something else to save for over the next year.

Giving is an act that doesn’t come naturally. We naturally want to serve ourselves first. It’s through the convicting work of the Spirit in our heart that we realize just how much we’ve been given. We then give from a cheerful heart, one that is overflowing in gratitude for all that God has done for us. This then is my ongoing prayer for my own children-that the Spirit would help them see how blessed they are because of Christ, propelling them to love and give to those who need it most.

How does your family like to give to others this time of year?

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Through My Weakness

12. December 2012 · 7 comments · Categories: Christmas

“Mom, why is there a magnifying glass in the Advent box?”

Each day of Advent, my boys have opened one of the tiny doors on our Advent box and pulled out an object. We then talk about what the object symbolizes and read a passage from Scripture.

I asked the boys to listen closely as I read the day’s Scripture passage to see if they could figure out why I had put a magnifying glass in the box.

“My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name. And his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts; he has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate; he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his offspring forever.” Luke 1: 46-55

We talked about what a magnifying glass does; how it makes small things larger. We talked about the humility of Mary and how she magnified the Lord in her life. And we talked about what it looks like for our own souls to magnify the Lord.

I continue to mull that passage over in my mind. Does my own soul magnify the Lord? Does my life make the God we can’t see, larger and more visible? Do I reflect Him to those who don’t know Him? Or do I live my life trying to magnify myself rather than God?

This season, as I’ve prepared my heart for Advent, I’ve found myself comparing my own heart to that of Mary. And I’ve found it wanting.

Then I think about Mary, who she was, where she came from, and how God used her. God often uses the least likely people to build his kingdom. He likes to work through our human weakness, giving us His strength. A small shepherd boy became a king. A poor, unwed young teen carried the Christ-child. An uneducated fishermen became the founder of the early church.

The Spirit pierces the heart and points me to the truth— I can’t compare myself to anyone, I must instead look to Christ. It’s because of Christ’s birth, life, death and resurrection that I am completely accepted and loved by the Father. It’s not my own worthiness. It’s not my hard work or effort. It’s Jesus and because of Him. Even when my heart doesn’t magnify Him as Mary’s did, God sees my heart as perfect because He sees Jesus’ righteousness in my place.

And it’s Jesus who will enable me to magnify the Lord in my life. He is working in me the way He did with David, Mary, and Peter-refining my heart until it shines like gold. He took a small, unimportant shepherd boy and made Him into a great king. He took a poor, young, and simple girl and made her the mother of our Lord. He took an outspoken and loud fisherman and made him into Peter, the Rock.

What can He do with me?

God prefers to work through the weak and weak is what I am. This Advent, I pray that He will use my weaknesses to magnify His name. And rather than focusing on what I can’t do or haven’t done, I am focusing on what He did do. After all, that’s what this season is about-Christ and why He entered this world.

 

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Meaningful and Creative Gifts

04. December 2012 · 5 comments · Categories: Christmas

Standing in long lines. Buying another sweater or tie that won’t be worn. Trying to find the perfect present for loved ones is a challenge. Especially for those who have everything.

What do you get for someone who doesn’t need anything?

Over the years, I have struggled with this question every Christmas. Today I want to share a few creative and meaningful gifts I’ve given over the years.

1. Shadow box frame: My husband had a collection of memorabilia that belonged to his late father: badges, pins, photos, etc. from his father’s time in the military and from his work as a firefighter. I took those items and placed them in a large shadow box and gave it to my husband as a gift. Important momento’s from trips, memories of times past, and items from a lost loved one are all things that can be put in a shadow box and given as a gift.

2. Legacy Jar: I wanted to preserve the stories from my parent’s life for my children so one year I made a “Legacy Jar.” I came up with 52 questions for my parents to answer about their childhood and adult life and placed them in a jar. They were to answer one question a week and write the answer down in a journal I provided. The following Christmas they were to return the completed journal to me. I included questions such as “What was your first car?” “What did you like to do for fun as a child?” “What was your favorite subject in school?” This is a gift that can be passed down through the generations.

3. Experiences: Sometimes giving the gift of an experience is fun. A couple of times I’ve given tickets to a particular event or show to our relatives. To make it more fun, I made a scavenger hunt for them to do to find their gift. Along the way they collected clues about where they would be going. Last year, my in-laws put together a scavenger hunt for my kids to do to find their gift: a trip to LEGOLAND.

One time I also wrote a little story to go with a gift I was giving to someone about an experience I was sending them to. I wrapped up a couple of small gifts that went with the experience I was giving them and with each gift they unwrapped, they read another portion of the story until they got to the last present which was the actual gift.

4. Photo gifts: These days, photo gifts are one of the easiest and meaningful gifts to give. Our relatives love the photo books we’ve given. Calendars, mugs, key chains with photos of my children have also been well received. There are also companies that will make gifts out of your children’s art which also make great gifts.

5. Date night: For a spouse, planning a weekend away or some special date nights for the coming year is a great gift. Giving your spouse a calendar with the date nights written in, along with where you are taking them can make a great gift. If you plan a weekend away, you can give little gifts that give them clues as to where you are taking them (a map, travel guide, a new toiletry bag, etc.)

6. Handprint gifts: I love handprint gifts. There are so many cute things you can make with a child’s handprint. One example is handprint ornaments. See the examples below that we’ve given in past years.

7. Donations: Last, but not least, is to give a donation to a charity in another person’s name. Some charities will give you a card or some other item to give the person saying that you made a donation in their honor. On a similar note, purchasing a handmade item from a developing nation is another great gift idea. Purchasing the gift supports the people in that nation and your loved one gets a unique handmade gift.

Have you any ideas to share of meaningful gifts to give this Christmas?

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Teach Me Jesus Thursdays: More Activities for Advent (and a giveaway)

29. November 2012 · 25 comments · Categories: Christmas, Teach Me Jesus

A couple of weeks ago, I shared one of our family’s Advent traditions. If you missed that post, click here.

Today I wanted to share a few other ideas for “teaching Jesus” to our children during this Christmas season.

1. Names of Jesus Chain (by SpellOutLoud): In homeschool this month, we are studying the names of Jesus. Click here for a printable that includes each of the names. You print them out onto paper, making a chain with one name per loop of paper. Hang up the completed chain and each day during Advent, you discuss that name and remove a link from the chain.

2. Advent wreath: We also like to do the traditional Advent wreath during the season. This tradition has been celebrated since the ninth century. A wreath of greens encircles four candles. In the middle of the four candles is one white candle. Each Sunday of Advent a different candle is lit, with the final candle being lit on Christmas Eve. We use a devotional that provides passages of Scripture to read while lighting the candles. We use this one: Christ in Christmas: A Family Advent Celebration

3. Learn about Christmas songs: Pick a few of the traditional Christmas carols and discuss with your children what they mean. Perhaps learn about the people who wrote them and what motivated them to write the song. Listen to different versions of the song.

4. Christmas stories: Read a different Christmas book each day of Advent. We’ve been collecting them over the years and have a few favorites including: The Gift of the Christmas Cookie: Sharing the True Meaning of Jesus’ Birth, The Berenstain Bears and the Joy of Giving (Berenstain Bears/Living Lights), The Christmas Sweater: A Picture Book and A Charlie Brown Christmas (Peanuts). I keep a big basket in the living room filled with the books so my children can look at them throughout the season.

5. Gingerbread manger scene: Instead of the typical gingerbread house, make a manger scene out of gingerbread. We tried this last year and had fun with it. Marshmallows make great sheep, graham crackers make a nice manger, and toasted coconut works well as hay.

6. Attend a live nativity: This has been a tradition for our family since my oldest son was little. Various churches in the area host a live nativity where people act out the story of Christmas. Some churches will have it as a drive through and others as a walk through. It’s especially fun if they have a petting zoo. Another idea would be to have your children act out the story on their own.

7. Make ornaments: We make ornaments every year. Some years we’ve made candy cane ornaments and talked about what the candy cane represents (red as Jesus’ blood, the white as the purity we have because of Christ, it was by his stripes that we are healed, etc.). Another fun way to make ornaments is with Shrinky Dinks-remember those? Your child can write a favorite Christmas verse or draw a favorite symbol representing some part of the Christmas story onto the Shrinky Dink plastic. You cut it out in a shape that would work well for an ornament and punch a hole at the top. After baking, it shrinks down and hardens. A ribbon can be threaded through the hole, making it an ornament.

8. Paper nativity: Last year I came across this cute printable nativity that you color, cut out, and tape together so they can stand up. So cute! Click here for the printable.

And now, a giveaway! We are reading Tabitha’s Travels: A Family Story for Advent
during the Advent season and one reader will win a copy of this book. Just leave a comment below to be automatically entered. Random.org will select a winner on December 3 at 8:00pm EST.

Update: Maria is the winner of the book giveaway. Congratulations, Maria!

Do you have any ideas to share on ways to “teach Jesus” during the Christmas season? Please share!

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