Ah, yes, the holiday rush is on. It’s that time of year when the lines are long and shoppers are irritable. There are parties to go to, cards to write, baking to be done, a tree to get, lights to be hung and presents to wrap. Then there is the deluge of television advertisements that tell us what we must buy in order to make our loved ones happy. The world has taken Christmas and turned it into a celebration of consumerism. For many children, Christmas is about what presents they are going to get. They have no idea what it is really about. What can we do as parents to make sure our children know the true meaning of Christmas? The answer lies in what we do as parents to put Christ at the center of our Christmas. If we’re too busy with holiday preparations to spend time teaching our children what Christmas is really about, then we can’t expect them to know the truth. The world will teach them its rendition and it won’t be about Jesus. But if we take the time to put Christ at the center of our family’s holiday, we will be giving our children the greatest Christmas gift of all: knowing Jesus. Here are some ways you can teach your children the true meaning of Christmas. Begin by reading the account of Jesus’ birth in the Bible with your children. Next, discuss Jesus’ life; how he loved people and did things for others. To make Christmas come alive for them, teach them to imitating Jesus by doing things for others. Read the scriptures and the examples below for inspiration. Make sure that whatever you choose to do will impact the life of the person you are doing it for in a meaningful way.
1. Teach them to give
“In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive. ’ ” Acts 20: 35 (NIV).
* Have them choose one of their own toys (in good condition) to give to a child who has none. You choose an item of your own, such as a coat or shoes to give to a homeless person.
* Help a less fortunate family for Christmas by providing all the fixings for a Christmas meal, presents for the children and clothes if needed.
* Pack bag lunches to give out to the homeless. Include a sandwich, juice box, cheese and crackers, Wet Ones, bus pass, a list of addresses where they can get a hot meal and shower, change for a phone call, and invitation to church.
2. Teach them to share
“Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. ” 1 Timothy 6: 18.
* Take a basket of homemade cookies to a neighbor you don’t know well and invite them to church.
* Have a friend over for dinner who doesn’t know about Jesus and share the Good News with them.
* Invite a military person who is away from home to spend Christmas dinner at your house.
3. Teach them to care
“A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling. God sets the lonely in families, he leads forth the prisoners with singing; but the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land. ” Psalms 68: 5-6.
* Visit a Children’s Hospital. Bring cookies, toys and games to play.
* Bring toys and clothes to an orphanage.
* Bring a meal to someone who has a chronic illness. . 3. Teach them to serve
“Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave – just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. ” Matthew 20: 26-28. (NIV)
*Volunteer to make and serve a meal at a homeless shelter
*Spending an afternoon at a senior citizens’ home. Bring cookies and reading material, sing Christmas songs and serve in any way that may be needed.
* Take an elderly person shopping.
* Do yard work, pet care or housework for someone who is not physically able to do those things for themselves.
By teaching our children to imitate Jesus this Christmas season, we will keep the true meaning of Christmas alive for this generation and for the next. Jesus is the real reason for the season.
