It was a little over five years ago ......
that I sat in the quiet of the early morning darkness and contemplated.
How can this year be different?
And God made it so. He worked a miracle in my heart that morning and spurred me with new vision for a Christmas that was all that it should be ...... Christ-filled.
We tucked away the commercialism and the busy-ness and the frantic sense of what has to be done and we remembered. That first season we waited in anticipation for Christmas morn with a new sense of purpose.
We worshipped through word and deed. Lighting candles. Reading books. Giving done in secret to families in need both near and far. Table talk discussions. Hymns sung as only we can sing. Words spoken. Values changed. Gifts dreamed of for those in far away countries with so little and in so much need.
We prayed.
We worshipped.
We kept Christ in and through and all around Christmas.
And we still are doing it today.
Christ-centered Traditions:
- Advent lighting complete with Bible readings, applicable hymns, prayer, and activities - finishing off with candles for each child who walks to bed singing "Silent Night" (Isabelle's favorite part!). This we do each Sunday night of Advent (the 4 Sundays prior to Christmas).
- Donating anonymously, each according to his own convictions, to Compassion International -- the catalogue from which we choose several gifts to buy for needy families of impoverished nations around the world.
- Daily reading from an Advent-oriented book. This year's choice: Jotham's Journey by Arnold Ytreeide
- Nightly reading of Christmas books -- Christian-oriented focusing on the purpose and true Gift of Christmas.
- Morning devotions at the table using Ann Voskamp's A Jesus Advent Celebration: Jesse Tree Journey, complete with ornaments hung each day to coincide with the reading. Continued Bible memory of large chunks of Scripture. Hundreds of verses and passages memorized -- to God be the Glory!
- Table talk discussions which are Christmas centered using the inspirational edition of Tabletalkers: Christmas Edition.
- Weekly activities which bring our focus on giving to others in need through both words of encouragement and selfless giving of homemade or homegrown gifts.
- Prayer for those who's Christmas cards we received that day.
- Christmas Eve centered not on Santa, but rather on the Christ child -- God's greatest Gift to mankind. Nativity set placement. Bible reading. Singing. Prayer. Candles. Stories. Traditions. Memories.
Truly priceless.
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