Trying To Keep Christ In Christmas

I was sitting here today thinking about past Christmas celebrations and traditions. As a young mom I tried to keep Christ as the center of our Christmas celebrations. There were both success and failures. One tradition that is a favorite of mine, but didn't last beyond their preteen years, was our gifts to Jesus. Every year we each put a gift under the tree for Jesus. I was amazed by some of the things my boys would give to Jesus. They would trace their hands and/or feet and then say they wanted to do whatever or go wherever God wanted them. One of them drew a heart and said they wanted a heart that loved God more. They would write a note promising to be more obedient, not just to God but to mom and dad too. One year one even gave his anger to Jesus and ask God to help him because he had been struggling with it.

There were other things we tried to do intentionally with plans to make them a yearly family tradition; like serving the homeless, giving gifts to Angel Tree, packing up shoe boxes for Operation Christmas Child or inviting friends over for Christmas dinner who found themselves unable to be with family. Some lasted for years, some didn't last but one. A few that have stayed with us and we continue today with our grandchildren is the Christmas story being read and praying together as a family before we open our presents. Attending Christmas Eve serves together, although as families grow (and of move away) this becomes harder to do. We also open presents one at time, from the youngest to the oldest, which allows us to slow down as we open our gifts. 

If I allow myself to "go there" I can feel guilty about not keeping up with some of those things. But I've learned that it's not the traditions that we pass down (or don't pass down) that matter; but have we kept the real meaning of Christmas alive in our hearts, and the hearts of our children. Did we passed down Jesus and the miracle of that morning so long ago? Have we done our best to point our children and others to Jesus during this season? Then that is the best "tradition" we could pass on to them. Remember we can only point them to the manager and on to the cross of Jesus. It is the Spirit of God who will draw them unto Himself and keep Christmas alive in their hearts all year long.

My wish this year for my family and yours is that we will not be so worried about creating traditions or the perfect Christmas but that we would slow down and take time to enjoy family, friends and the true meaning of Christmas. That we would share Jesus and the reason we celebrate this season.  I pray that we are able to breathe in the sweet aroma of Christmas...that sweet sacrifice of God giving His precious Son so that we might have an everlasting relationship with Him.

I want to encourage you to set aside time during the busy holiday season to get into the Word and meditate on the reason for the season. Read verses with your husband, family or friends and talk about them. Be aware of open opportunities to talk to your children, family, friends, and neighbors about the reason you celebrate Christmas.

Here are a few verses you can use as you prepare your heart for Christmas. Of course there is always the birth of Jesus found in Matthew 1:18-25; 2:1-12 and Luke 2:1-38. The birth of Jesus is foretold in Isaiah 40:1-11. You might also want to read the following verses too.

John 1:14  And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Galatians 4:4-5  But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.

1 Timothy 1:15-17  The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life. To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

Isaiah 9: 6-7  For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.