Keep Christ in Christmas
Church Family, we are in the midst of the Christmas season. Many of us are busy with decorations and festivities. I want you to have fun and enjoy the holidays, but most of all I want you to keep the main thing. Christmas is about the birth of Jesus. Santa Claus, Frosty the Snowman and Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer did not come into the world to save us from sin. Only Jesus did that. In fact, his name means, “one who came to save us from sin.”
We must strive to keep Christ in Christmas. Below I have complied a list of helpful activities that you can do alone or with others to remember that this is all about Jesus.
- Take a cue from the Magi and limit the gifts and reminding kids it’s not their birthday, it’s His.
- Have a birthday cake for Jesus or go all out and make it a birthday party!
- Give your kids the gift of giving: Have them shop with purpose.
- If you are Christmas hoarder, consider giving away some of your decorations to those without.
- Do something for someone else on Christmas Day rather than eat. Consider helping at a shelter or hospital.
- Talk with your kids about giving God a gift. What does He want from us?
- Hang a stocking for Christ. Fill it with notes just for Him.
- Invite someone to share Christmas dinner with your family.
- Don’t participate in the excessive commercialism.
- Be generous as a family at Christmas — baking, giving, doing.
- When preparing your Christmas meal, set a literal place for Jesus, your honored guest.
- Read Luke 2 together on Christmas Eve or morning.
- Leave a Nativity out all year long.
Merry Christmas,
Dr. Sheron C. Patterson