Originally posted Nov 29, 2015:
How We Celebrate Christmas and Why
We don't tell our children there is a Santa (or Easter Bunny or Tooth Fairy). We celebrate Christ's birth in such a big way there isn't any room for Santa. The only Santa you will find in our home is one kneeling in front of a manger worshipping the best Gift the world has ever seen.
There is still wonder and excitement! Our children still count down the days and announce how many are left each morning! They take a long time to write wish lists! They still eagerly anticipate and can't sleep the night before. We make Wise Men Bags instead of stockings. We have a cake for Jesus and sing Happy Birthday to Him. Every year, we make ornaments that reflect our beliefs. We view light shows keeping in mind that Jesus is the Light and encourages us to walk in truth. We attend events and worship in music all month in our home! Clint reads the Christmas story from Luke to us every year.
I make Christmas morning special by appealing to all of their senses. I use homemade potpourri to scent the house. I have Christmas music playing low. Sometimes I light candles. I have warm ham and turkey croissants on the table. The decorations are lit and the presents are arranged around it. Santa is so engraved in people's minds for Christmas due to our culture that they can't believe Christmas can be special without him!
We have taught them about the real St. Nicholas. He was quite a passionate man! We feel feisty old St. Nick with his strong beliefs would have slapped people in their face, much like he did Arius, for how they celebrate him in Christ's place today.
They also know about the difference between the myth of Santa and have been taught by us to respect others' beliefs and ways of celebration. They know of the accusations and hatred from other Christians that have been aimed at their father and me for celebrating Christmas with Christ and without Santa. Our children have repeatedly thanked us for making a stand for Truth over tradition.
As young parents, Clint and I felt this was the way the Lord was leading us to worship on Christmas. Our goal, every year, is to place Christ first and foremost. When Clint and I stand before the Lord, we don't want Him remembering how we squeezed Him in alongside something else but how we gave Him ALL of the room in our hearts and home.
There is still wonder and excitement! Our children still count down the days and announce how many are left each morning! They take a long time to write wish lists! They still eagerly anticipate and can't sleep the night before. We make Wise Men Bags instead of stockings. We have a cake for Jesus and sing Happy Birthday to Him. Every year, we make ornaments that reflect our beliefs. We view light shows keeping in mind that Jesus is the Light and encourages us to walk in truth. We attend events and worship in music all month in our home! Clint reads the Christmas story from Luke to us every year.
I make Christmas morning special by appealing to all of their senses. I use homemade potpourri to scent the house. I have Christmas music playing low. Sometimes I light candles. I have warm ham and turkey croissants on the table. The decorations are lit and the presents are arranged around it. Santa is so engraved in people's minds for Christmas due to our culture that they can't believe Christmas can be special without him!
We have taught them about the real St. Nicholas. He was quite a passionate man! We feel feisty old St. Nick with his strong beliefs would have slapped people in their face, much like he did Arius, for how they celebrate him in Christ's place today.
They also know about the difference between the myth of Santa and have been taught by us to respect others' beliefs and ways of celebration. They know of the accusations and hatred from other Christians that have been aimed at their father and me for celebrating Christmas with Christ and without Santa. Our children have repeatedly thanked us for making a stand for Truth over tradition.
As young parents, Clint and I felt this was the way the Lord was leading us to worship on Christmas. Our goal, every year, is to place Christ first and foremost. When Clint and I stand before the Lord, we don't want Him remembering how we squeezed Him in alongside something else but how we gave Him ALL of the room in our hearts and home.
I Peter 3:15 But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,
Romans 12:2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect
I John 2:15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
1 John 3:18 Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.
