Oh, Come Let Us Adore Him!
I love this time of year and everything about it! The tree, decorations, and parties! If you were here in person, I’d fix you hot chocolate and your choice of flavored marshmallows or whipped cream with Christmas sprinkles and chocolate chips. You’d hear Christmas music blaring and smell my Christmas candle burning!
I try to make this season special for my family. We emphasize the true meaning, of course… but we also enjoy so many of the cultural holiday “stuff”!
One day we were driving in the car when my son asked, “How come we don’t have any Christmas traditions???” Immediately my mind started to race! “I’VE FAILED MY CHILDREN!” “WHY DON’T WE HAVE TRADITIONS?” Then I stopped, thought, and asked him, “Well, what do we do each year at Christmas time?” We started to list the things we’ve done for years:
- Watching the old Christmas movies each year.
- Christmas dinner … different each year.
- Reading from the same inspirational Christmas story books each year.
- Each year the kids choose an new ornament.
- We hang up the Christmas cards we receive, and pray for each person that sends a card.
- Instead of a Christmas wreath on my front door, I hang a stocking and fill it with candy so that whoever visits can have a treat!
- Some years we bake, some years…not so much!
- We love, love, love to listen to Christmas music!
We’ve done different things each year. One year we spent the morning in D.C. with some people from our church, handing out bagged lunches to homeless people. We have ornaments with special meaning. I always top our tree with a crown of thorns, and hang a nail from the tree…to remind us why we celebrate. Each year we try new things. New recipes. I love picking out special little gifts for those who are dear to us.
Although we do things that might be considered traditions, each year looks a little different than the other. We are limited financially, so we do what we can with what we have been given. We refuse to go into debt at Christmas time.
One year we couldn’t afford a tree, so I got out our little artificial trees and we decorated them. I was feeling bad about the fact that we didn’t have a real tree. I was attempting to convince my family that everything would be “okay,” and that everything would still be “special.”
I finally stopped trying to convince everyone and we all tried to get perspective. We didn’t have a picture perfect Christmas tree, but we had what we could afford, did the best we could with what we had, and attempted to focus on being grateful … and on the true meaning of Christmas.
My children will have families of their own one day. What will I have taught them? Will they come away from my home remembering how mom fell apart because her tree wasn’t perfect? Will they remember me as someone who “made do” and made things special using what she had, or a mom who spent money needlessly? Will they remember a mom whose focus was honoring JESUS all year around, or one who just talked about Him during the Christmas season?
I love to buy my children gifts and make Christmas as Christ-centered and fun as possible. I love to read about and hear what others do, and then implement their ideas into our Christmas. But as I get older, and as my kids get older, the thing that is standing out to me the most is that I want my children to remember a home that was peaceful and Christ filled … all year. A mom who loved, respected and honored dad. A mom who loved and served her family. A mom who sought forgiveness and admitted where she was wrong. A mom who was committed to God and her calling.
I desire to be a mom who lived out the most important gift: the gospel.
These are the gifts that will stay with my children long after the decorations come down. Gifts that won’t break, go out of style, or get worn out. And will stay with them long after I am gone!
I love the Christmas season, but the “bigger picture” is what is looming over me right now. I am not saying the other stuff is not important, but this is what is being impressed on my heart. I know of families who have a lavish Christmas each year, many gifts, huge trees…but whose homes have no peace, and whose decision making is not based on God and His Word. “Christian” homes. I don’t want that!
I am not above that … but I don’t want that.
My prayer is that we would remember the Christ of Christmas all year, every day , every second, in every decision, in every word, in every thought. Adoring Him with our lives.
Oh, come let us adore Him! Oh, come let us adore Him! Oh, come let us adore Him! Christ the Lord!
well said Gina.
Thank you!!
🙂 Love this post! Thanks
Thanks, Tami!
Thanks, Gina. All too often we get caught up in this idea of a picture-perfect Christmas. If commercials are to be believed, we should all have fancy dinners, new luxury cars with giant bows on top of them, ungrateful children with impeccable taste who might not approve of the boat load of electronics offered at their feet, and be skinny enough to fit into ridiculous outfits that most moms couldn’t chase children in. I love Toby Mac’s Christmas in Diverse City album. He has a fabulous song This Christmas (Father of the Fatherless). Puts it all in perspective.
Amen, Jennifer!
“My children will have families of their own one day. What will I have taught them? Will they come away from my home remembering how mom fell apart because her tree wasn’t perfect? Will they remember me as someone who “made do” and made things special using what she had, or a mom who spent money needlessly? Will they remember a mom whose focus was honoring JESUS all year around, or one who just talked about Him during the Christmas season?”
Love this!!! I have been struggling with Christmas this year because I am so weary of my girls getting a ton of gifts that they 1) don’t need and 2) are learning not be thankful for because they have an abundance. This year, I just want Christmas to first and foremost be Christ centered and I want it to be more low-key. It is hard when you have grandparents who love their grandkids but over-do the gift giving. If anyone has pointers on how to have a loving conversation about reigning in the gifts I would love to hear them!
I would say, let your kids enjoy the gifts. Let the grandparents know that you appreciate their generosity. They love their grand kids! Keep the conversation going as your kids grow up about the true meaning and gratefulness. LIve it before them. It doesn’t happen over night. Christ centered can be how we respond and enjoy each moment. It is a process of growth in all of us. I know that I ruined a few christmas seasons, when my kids were small, because I was so determined to make it ” christ centered”, and got frustrated with the gifts they were given. Just be a living example, be grateful, and it will become a natural thing over the years.
Grace to you!!
Gina,
Thank you for the advice! You just helped to dial down the stress level! You were so right on with your comment about ruining Christmas because of trying to make things more Christ centered, I haven’t done that (YET) but I can totally see myself going down that road. Thank you for the words of wisdom!