“Isn’t there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about?”

“Isn’t there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about?” That is what Charlie Brown finally screams in the midst of trying to get a Christmas tree, directing the Christmas play, and managing all of the other madness of the Christmas season. Does that sound familiar? Especially with only 8 more days until Christmas! Christmas season seems to keep getting more and more crazy, and families have less and less time together over the holiday season. Instead our time is spent running to Christmas parties, shopping, and making our home look like Santa’s Wonderland!

Many families have the great tradition of reading the Christmas story as they put up the tree, on Christmas Eve, or on Christmas morning. That is a great tradition, but if it is the only time that you talk about the Christmas story then we are selling our children short. If we only talk about the Christmas story once over the holidays then you are decreasing the chance of the importance of the story truly impacting your child’s life. Many people say “Jesus is the reason for the season,” but unless we stop and talk about why this is true it is useless.
Maybe you are like me, and you feel stretched by all the Christmas activities that have been going on instead of focusing on Christ’s birth and the hope that He brought the entire world. It was Christ who came to save the world; that is the hope that we celebrate on Christmas as we anticipate His second coming. My challenge and encouragement for families over the next 8 days is to set time aside each day as a family and read the Christmas story. Then talk about its importance and come up with creative ways to show your neighbors how God loves them and sent His Son into the world. (Careful, this may require giving up another Christmas activity you were planning to attend) Here are a few examples:

1. Ask creative questions about the Christmas story. Such as, how do you think it smelled being born in a manger? How would you feel if there were no place for you to stay but a stable/barn? What is your favorite part of the story?

2. Bake and take. Bake and decorate some Christmas cookies (or another treat) with your family and take some to your neighbors.

3. Look at Christmas lights. Drive around and look at Christmas lights as a family. Talk about how you can be a light in your neighborhood and “shine like stars in the universe (Phil 2:14-17).”

4. C-H-R-I-S-T-M-A-S: Take the word Christmas and as a family write a characteristic of God next to each letter of the word. Example: C- Caring; H- Holy, etc…

Linus responded to Charlie Brown’s question by quoting Luke 2:8-14, “’And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.’ That is what Christmas is all about Charlie Brown.”