When I was a child, my family maintained a Christmas Eve tradition. We loaded up in the car and drove around looking at the lights decorating homes. When we returned home, my Dad read the Christmas story to us from the Bible. Then, we opened presents.
We continue the tradition of opening presents on Christmas Eve. As we were straightening the house that morning, I started talking to the kids about the true meaning of Christmas. Curious to know what their response would be, I asked them if Christmas was all about getting presents?
Thankfully, they answered no!
But, then to our amazement, throughout our conversation, Jersey #1 and Jersey #2 proceeded to tell us the Christmas story, quoting verses out of the Bible from memory. Thank you AWANA for helping encourage our children to memorize scripture like that. The Referee and I were quite impressed.
It was eye-opening for us to realize how much the children are listening, memorizing, and understanding. They completely understand which traditions are secular (decorating Christmas trees), which are family traditions (opening gifts on Christmas Eve, instead of Christmas morning), that December 25th is an arbitrary date organized in history versus the actual date of Jesus' birth (believed to be in the Fall). They understand the real celebration...not just the birth of Jesus, but His victory over death. And, they are starting to apply those scripture versus to their understanding.
They can spot Luke 2:10-11 a mile away...in Christmas carols, in songs on the radio, in Pastor's sermons, in the scripture readings during the Christmas Eve service.
We continue the tradition of opening presents on Christmas Eve. As we were straightening the house that morning, I started talking to the kids about the true meaning of Christmas. Curious to know what their response would be, I asked them if Christmas was all about getting presents?
Thankfully, they answered no!
But, then to our amazement, throughout our conversation, Jersey #1 and Jersey #2 proceeded to tell us the Christmas story, quoting verses out of the Bible from memory. Thank you AWANA for helping encourage our children to memorize scripture like that. The Referee and I were quite impressed.
It was eye-opening for us to realize how much the children are listening, memorizing, and understanding. They completely understand which traditions are secular (decorating Christmas trees), which are family traditions (opening gifts on Christmas Eve, instead of Christmas morning), that December 25th is an arbitrary date organized in history versus the actual date of Jesus' birth (believed to be in the Fall). They understand the real celebration...not just the birth of Jesus, but His victory over death. And, they are starting to apply those scripture versus to their understanding.
They can spot Luke 2:10-11 a mile away...in Christmas carols, in songs on the radio, in Pastor's sermons, in the scripture readings during the Christmas Eve service.
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, 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.
As their mother, I am so blessed to get to see their understanding grow with them as they grow.
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