It's easy to get caught up in the makings of our current culture's Christmas, the shopping and decorating, the baking, all the special activities and expectations, and lose sight of celebrating the incarnation of the greatest gift - the Savior of the world. We learned many years ago that we have to be intentional in keeping Christ in Christmas. Otherwise, it becomes just a secular gift-giving holiday, turning merchant colors from red to black. It's easy for children to think of Christmas as presents and santa and just tack on Christ's birth because, well, that's just the Christian thing to do (for those who do the Christian thing). We've never played santa, and if our daughters made Christmas lists, it was for what they were going to give to someone else, not what they wanted to receive. Our purpose in gift-giving reflected the gift-giving of the wise men and God's giving the greatest gift of all, His Son.
While we had a "blessing box" in which we shared the special blessings we received during the year, we also wanted to be a special blessing to those in need at Christmas. We usually chose a girl from the bus ministry at our church, and our daughters had great fun anonymously buying her clothes and items that they would enjoy receiving themselves. It was a special blessing when we'd see her wear her new clothes to church.
Christmas Eve has always been special, and still are when our daughters are home for the holiday. We have special goodies, but the best part is spending the evening reading the account of Christ's birth and singing Christmas carols. Then we open one gift before bed (and another if they could talk their daddy into it). It would take a couple of hours to open all the gifts on Christmas morning, not because there were so many, but because we opened them one by one, one person at a time, reflecting on the gift and the giver, trying it out, maybe trying it on, expressing appreciation.
Relating as much of the goings on of Christmas to the gospel message as we can helps to focus on Christ's birth. For example, we talk of the decorative lights as a reminder that Jesus is the light of the world. The red of Christmas reminds us that He was born to die for our sins. The green reminds us of our new birth because He came into the world to die and rise again. Gold speaks of the golden streets of Heaven, purple His royalty, white and snow His purity and that our sins shall be as white as snow if we know Him. Angels - Gabriel announcing Christ's birth. The star at the tree top - the star that led the shepherds to the Christ child. Bells ring out the good news of His birth. We always liked to have a manger scene that the children could move the pieces around. Wise men still seek Him. Our Christmas cards are an opportunity to share the gospel message. And the music - carols and songs about the birth of Christ, not reindeer on the roof.
Joy to the world -- the Lord is come! Come, let us adore Him!
Painting ~ By Marcel Rieder (1862-1942) (Collection privée Photographie by P.F. Rieder)
Public domain via Wikimedia Commons
