With all of the excitement over the anticipation of wonderful and many gifts, Christmas trees and lights, candy canes and Santa Claus, it's very easy for children to forget the main purpose we have a Christmas holiday. It's pretty clear to show them who it's all about; just underline the first syllable.
Oh, many of us have Sunday School lessons about baby Jesus during December. We sing songs about him and have Christmas programs about him. Many of us recite the telling of his birth from the New Testament on Christmas Eve. But, what happens on Christmas Day at your house? As I think back on it, it was all about Santa Claus! And, it's fun and exciting to see what Santa brings us, but on Christ's birthday, there's nothing that brings our focus back to Him.
If you would like to change that, it'd be easy enough. There are many children's books on
The New Testament. Give each child their very own. Then for that moment, when they open that gift, they will think, "Oh, yeah, it's Jesus's birthday today." If they all ready have a story book about Him, give them some other object to draw their attention to the Savior. Have it there with the rest of their gifts. When my kids were older, I gave them a calendar that had different pictures of Christ for each month. There are hundreds of beautiful pictures of Christ you could give them.
A good motivation for reading their New Testament books would be to have them set the goal to be to the Easter story by the time Easter comes around. Then they can have a Christ-centered Easter too!
Doreese
