A Cozy Christ Centered Christmas

Christmas time!  It even sounds lovely.  For us, the Christmas season begins the first of December.  We focus each evening on the birth of Jesus Christ.  We want there to be no question in  our children’s minds about what Christmas is all about. 

 Several years ago, we sold our house in the middle of November.  We were supposed to move into our new home in two weeks.  Mind you, we had a ten year old, a four year old, a two year old and a newborn.  Two weeks turned into seven weeks!  Momma had to make Christmas.  We spent the entire Christmas season and Christmas itself in that motel room watching the wonderful celebrations on the Home and Garden Channel and the Food Network.  That experience changed the way I “make Christmas” for my family forever.  All of our Christmas things were in storage.  A friend loaned us a pre-decorated two foot tall tree.   I went to Hobby Lobby and bought a couple of new Christmas decorations to put about and some candles.  Then, I made the most wonderful discovery in my local Bible bookstore. 

I found a wonderful, beautifully illustrated Advent book.  It has doors that the children open each night that reveal beautiful paintings and the story of the birth of Christ.  This isn’t a kiddie book; it is art.  It is called THE ADVENT BOOK by Jack and Kathy Stockman.  The price was steep, $35.00 at the time; but, I knew that I had to make this season special.  We love this book so much, I want to give each of the kids a copy of their own when they marry. 

Each evening, we gather in the living room.  We light the candle that is above our Nativity scene; and then, we take turns reading the Christmas story from this wonderful book.  The days are numbered 1-25.  On December 1st we read day 1.  Each day we read from the beginning up to the present day.  So tonight, we will read days 1-14.  I love it because my little ones are learning it by heart. 

After we read it, we may read another Christmas book, or sing Silent Night and another carol or two.  It is a cozy way to bring our focus back to Lord Jesus and to calm down at the end of the day.

Here is a list of some of the Christmas books our family enjoys:

The Advent Book by Jack and Kathy Stockman

One Wintry Night by Ruth Bell Graham

The Very First Christmas by Paul Maier

The Pine Tree Parable by Liz Curtis Higgs

Annika’s Secret Wish by Beverly Lewis 

The Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

May you find peace and joy in your celebration of Christ’s birth during this Christmas season.

Laura