Christmas seems bigger every year. Bigger presents. Bigger parties. Bigger trees. Bigger decorations.
Sometimes I just want to hide from it. I want to give gifts only to Jesus. I want to have a simple Christmas. I want to make popcorn garlands and get a penny and a peppermint stick in my stocking like Laura Ingalls.
I don’t want my kids’ eyes as big as saucers when they come down the stairs on Christmas morning. I don’t want them overly tired and cranky from too much Christmas candy and too many Christmas parties.
I want them to know the big deal of Christmas is Jesus. I want to stack up everything that Christmas “requires”: trees, gifts, parties, cards, wrapping and matching outfits and make sure it looks small compared to the gift of Jesus.
When we make a big deal of Jesus by focusing on Him for 24 days, reading His story for an entire month, meditating on His gift to us, we’ll make Him bigger. The big deal of Christmas will become big in the hearts of your children. It will be a big deal that will stay with them their entire lives–making Jesus the Big Deal of their lifetime.
Let’s do it–make Christmas a big deal. Go all out—focusing on Jesus, making His name great and honoring Him this year. I think Truth in the Tinsel is a great way to do this (of course!), but what’s another way your family makes a big deal of the Christ of Christmas?
Each of our kids only get three gifts for Christmas: a need, a want, and a spiritual gift. We read the Christmas story before bed on Christmas Eve and this year we are going to celebrate advent!
I love this! We do 3 gifts, too and I love how it cuts down on the craziness on Christmas morning. (Now the grandparents on the other hand…)
a
We give 3 gifts, too. I loved doing Truth in the Tinsel last year. We do it together with the Jesse Tree.
We never give big presents, only what we can afford. The 3 gifts idea seems a wonderful idea to use at home! Thanks!
Sounds great! I’ll do too…!
I wish we would have instituted the GIVING of the gifts…as in what my daughter gave to my son would actually be handed to him instead of just passing out the gifts and having big piles. I think that would have impressed upon them the feeling of giving and also receiving the gift. I plan to make that change with Grandchildren someday.
Hmmm. That’s a very cool and interesting distinction. I like that!
I have started (the past 2 years, maybe) having my kids make gifts for each other, instead of going shopping and ME buying something for THEM to give. I hope it’s a tradition that continues!
a
We do a Jesse Tree each year. I made the ornaments and each year I wrap them up and put them under a small tree. Every day, one child gets to open up an ornament and place it on the tree while we read a bible story that relates to why we needed Jesus to come to earth. Such a great tradition and the kids look forward to it each year!
I do like the Jesse Tree! It’s really how Truth in the Tinsel came about. I was trying to do the Jesse Tree with my daughter and she was too young for it.
We’ll tackle it one day. And I love how you wrap each ornament!
a
We do a ‘random acts of kindness’ advent calendar…my kids love it and can’t wait to find out what the RAK is each morning!
Love that idea Gayle! What are the ideas you have in your calendar?
We are planning a birthday party for Jesus and we are thinking in a gift for Jesus… something easy handmade by the kids, I’ll do Truth in the tinsel by the way
Joa