With all the parties, shopping, and decorating, the reason for Christmas can get buried. Try these easy activities to keep Christ at the center.
Easy Ways to Focus on Jesus
Reading the Bible account of the birth of Jesus and try some of these easy activities:
- Light an advent wreath nightly, then read a verse from the Christmas story or sing a Christmas carol.
- Buy or make gift wrap that reflects the reason for the season.
- Use moments to express joy, even simply to say, “Have a blessed Christmas” to a store clerk.
- On Christmas Day sing Happy Birthday to Jesus.
- Welcome Jesus: Decorate bedroom doors with paper hearts. Cut a door opening in the heart and place a picture of Jesus inside the paper door. Let each person write or draw a message on the heart inviting Jesus to be with him/her always.
Serve Jesus by Serving Others
Jesus came to serve and asks followers to serve others. There are many ways to show love.
- Reach out to neighbors. Make cookies or buy candy canes to give neighbors. Add Christmas cards and a brief message that shares the real meaning of Christmas.
- Shop for baby clothes for Jesus. Pick out an outfit as if it is for baby Jesus to wear. Then give the clothes to a homeless shelter.
- Make a paper chain of love deeds. For each person’s daily deeds that expressed love, add a link. On Christmas Eve, wrap the chain around the tree.
- Be generous in giving hugs (living wreaths). Hugs calm people and express love.
Shop for Christian Symbols
Before leaving home for Christmas shopping, chat about Christmas symbols that reflect the meaning of Christmas. This can include stars the wise men followed, green of God’s everlasting love, candy canes for shepherd’s staffs, and wrapped packages for the gifts of the magi. Then while shopping look for those symbols. See who finds the most or take photos next to some of the ones discovered.
Tree Traditions
Celebrate tree decorating with a party. Invite friends, put out cookies and fruits, and read in Hosea 14:8 how God compared Himself to the evergreen tree. Look up verses about decorations, such as John 8:12 for lights, Luke 2:13 for angel ornaments, and Galatians 5:22 for fruits. Make and place ornaments with each person’s name or photo on the tree to symbolize being part of God’s family tree.
Focus on the Story
Before advent gather Christmas books, games, videos, and CDs. Wrap each one. Place these presents under the tree or in a basket. Open one each day or two (depending on the amount) during the month of December. As a family, read, listen, watch or play the opened item.
Photograph family members opening these little gifts and spending time enjoying them. Use the photos to scrapbook and capture the memories of everyone focusing on Christ’s birth. Write on the pages notes of hat each person said about Christmas and the family activity.
Christmas Stockings of Joy
Stuff stockings with reminders that reflect being filled with God’s Holy Spirit and joy at Christmas. On Christmas morning, as everyone digs for stocking treasures, talk about being filled with God’s love and His Holy Spirit. Ask each person to share a thought on how a little treasure reminds him or her of God’s love or the Holy Spirit.
Choose the ideas that will be most meaningful and easiest to implement rather than trying to do every suggested activity. Connecting holiday activities as they occur to Christ's birth will bring Jesus into the conversation and into hearts.
Readers might also be interested in Spread Out the Christmas Gifts for Kids
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