Christmas At Our House

From the beginning of our marriage Diana and I wanted to forge our
own Christmas traditions. I felt Christmas was way too commercialized, had lost much of its meaning and needed to down size. Diana on the other hand thoroughly enjoyed almost all aspects of Christmas, including lots of decorations, baking, activities and celebrations. Needless to say our ideas clashed at the foot of the manager.

Through the years we have worked together to bring lots of celebration into the Christmas season while making sure that Christ remains the center of it all. We have gone to a barn for family devotions on Christmas day, given $1 gifts among ourselves, taken gifts to a child of a prisoner, trudged through snow to give away cookies, sang carols in the neighborhood, participated in a living nativity scene and incorporated Christmas ideas from other countries.

Here are some of the traditions we have made though the years: 1) Decorate the day after Thanksgiving in order to enjoy the season and avoid the pressure to have a perfect day on the 25th 2) Make a special ornament for the tree each year (make extra to give to your children when they leave home) 3) Give away cookies for neighbors and friends to show the love of Jesus in a practical way 4) Use a daily advent reading 5) Participate in the Samaritan Purse shoebox or gift ministry 6) Read a children’s book together 7) Celebrate with a Christmas breakfast 8) Enjoy the Christmas lights together and come home to enjoy hot chocolate and eggnog.

Above all find an opportunity with your family or church family to worship along with Mary when she said, “My soul exalts the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.”