This article was written by State Missionary, Rob Jackson.
As a child, Christmas was one of my favorite times of the year. Thankfully, my parents saw Christmas as a time to intentionally teach my sister and me. Perhaps some of my childhood celebrations will be helpful as you lead your family or your church this week of Christmas:
1. Sponsor a family and let your children pick out the gifts.
Some of my favorite Christmas memories are going to the store with my parents and buying gifts for underserved families. The lesson we learned was Christmas is about giving (John 3:16).
2. Help others as a family.
For example, you can work in someone’s yard, help around a shut-in’s house, or volunteer to feed the homeless. My parents used these work projects to instill in our family that giving is better than receiving (Acts 20:35).
3. Invite less fortunate people into your home for a Christmas party.
One childhood memory is inviting a group of Vietnamese refugees to our house to eat, hear the Christmas story, and give them gifts (Luke 14:13-14).
4. Pass out fruit and gifts to shut ins.
Admittedly, I was scared of these people in wheelchairs or confined to their beds. However, these visits left an indelible impact on my sister and me (James 1:27).
5. Go caroling with family and friends.
Get some battery-operated candles or lanterns and take your children with you singing about the Newborn King (Luke 2:20).
6. Give away some of last year’s toys.
We would go through all our toys the week before Christmas, keep a few, and give the rest to the Salvation Army. When I was a boy, I didn’t understand the lesson. I would pitch a fit! However, I was getting new toys for Christmas, and some children would enjoy my “old” toys. Mom would tell me, “You do not own anything you cannot give away… it owns you” (Matthew 6:19-21).
7. Enjoy Christmas Traditions.
Read the Christmas story. We also celebrated Christmas by utilizing the advent wreath in our home (Luke 2:1-7). We enjoyed Christmas Eve candlelight services as a family as well.
What are some of your family Christmas celebrations? Merry Christmas!
