Christmas Shopping

     Black Friday, Cyber Monday, Small Business Saturday, Great deals for myself, and for good friends. How do I get what I want and strategize to outdo the others who want the same things? December could be called “National Shopping Month.” Almost everyone will be in the store at least once (and probably more) to shop the sales, get gifts for important people, and to meet expectations of others.
     Christmas is a time full of traditions and expectations, but who’s expectations are we attempting to meet? I am not saying shopping is bad, but Christmassing to the exclusion of the special child born on that day misses the reason for the season. That’s why I started the original Advent Journey project more than 30 years ago.
     My Advent Journey began in a Sunday School class of young parents I taught in Wichita, KS. Through m weekly preparation I was moved to expand the lesson plans presented in the book with family activities. I shared the idea of doing something with our children every day from the Sunday after Thanksgiving until Christmas morning.

Nativity Scene

     Over the years, the Advent Journey expanded. The daily activities became more developed and included community activities. I created a paper chain that I hung by the breakfast table with a link for each day of Christmas. Each link included a verse we read together at the dining table, and an activity that would happen some time during the day.
     I added new activities and developed the plan to fit the interests of my growing children so it would not get boring. During the Middle School and High School years, the paper chain became a game sheet that my children took to school in their lunch. The plan and time together has given our family many happy moments and memories.

Advent Calendar

     I have shared the ideas with others over the years. I continue to want to share it with young families (please help me by sharing this post … and the website link!!)! A booklet of family activities can be downloaded for free from my website www.KosherCopy.com , under the Advent tab. The Bible verses I shared are also updated for this year, so families today can create their own paper chain.
     But why would someone want to take so much time to do this?? Because that is what Christmas is really about. God would want us to do this. The Bible commands us to pass on the faith (not the store bought gifts).

Great Book for Christmas

     So, what is your December filled with? Shopping and parties and travels? Does it contain time with the Savior, and sharing the faith (remember there is a difference between cultural tradition and true faith) with your family? The Bible tells us to Love the Lord Your God with ALL your heart, mind, soul and strength.

Why?

This week’s journal in the devotional Advent Journeys seeks to speak the words of Joseph as he travels with Mary from Nazareth to Bethlehem. Joseph and Mary were unique individuals of character, and for this reason they were chosen by God to become parents who would be remembered and who would serve as examples for other parents across two thousand years of history.

View from the Precipice near Nazareth 

Have you ever wondered why God chose this couple and how we can emulate their parenting methods with our own children?

Kitchen at a home in Katzrin

The scripture teaches that Joseph and Mary were individuals with integrity. Each parent in their own way sought to honor God with all their hearts, minds and strength. (Deuteronomy 6:5) When Gabriel came to Mary in order to inform her that she was chosen to give birth to the one called “the Son of the Most High” (Luke 1:32), she responded by asking “How can this be since I am a virgin.” Mary wanted her faithfulness to be known by the angel, by her parents, by her community and by Joseph.

Village of Katzrin in the Galilee

Matthew 1 tells of Joseph’s concern when he found out that Mary was pregnant. He loved her, but he knew his integrity would be compromised when the community came to know Mary was with child. Joseph sought a way to end the betrothal in an extremely private manner. As he prayed and sought God’s wisdom on the matter, Gabriel visited Joseph as he had visited Mary. The heavenly being assured Joseph that Mary had done nothing wrong. And the Angel asked Joseph to complete the marriage and to adopt the child.

Village of Katzrin in the Galilee

Both parents had similar concerns and stepped out in faith to accept the child and God’s calling to become parents and teachers of a child who was well beyond them in intellect and righteousness.

Scaffolding at Katzrin

Joseph and Mary sought throughout the life of Jesus and of their other children (Matthew 13:55-56) to bring faith to their family. The holy parents taught their children the scripture at every opportunity. They stood as examples of faith through every trial (and there were many, such as the necessity of escape from Bethlehem and living as parents of faith in a foreign land). Joseph and Mary honored every Jewish tradition and honored the festivals with their family. Joseph taught Jesus the skills of his trade and Mary loved Jesus and lived her care for him to the day of his death and beyond.

Packing down a roof in Katzrin

Jesus’ parents willingly took on any hardship and sought in every way to bring their children up in the faith. Today as parents we must do the same. We must honor the Christmas season with more than presents, we must honor God by giving our children our presence to tell real story of our faith. Parents show God’s love through proper placement of priorities.

December Family Nights

Each week when my family was young (preschool, elementary school and even high school-aged), our family set one night a week aside as a family night. These ideas, with a calendar are included on my website under the Advent tab. Please feel free to use these ideas with your family.

Family nights on my website are set around the following weekly themes: 1) Prophecy; 2) The Journey of Joseph & Mary; 3) The Shepherds; 4) The Magi. Family nights include: a special meal, an opportunity to read a portion of the Christmas story, times of singing, and surprises.

During the week of November 28, I try to share with my family how God told us about the birth of Jesus even before He came. To reinforce this children can help bake bread. What starts as dry ingredients turns into a lump, which rises, and then with baking becomes the bread we eat. In a similar fashion, the Gospel began as an idea, as God shared parts of his plan through the Old Testament, where we can began to understand the idea. Then Jesus was born in Bethlehem. We read scripture from Luke 1:1-4 with a focus on the prophets.

We set up the tree this day; the evergreen is a promise of eternal life. We set out Nativity sets, which tell the story of Christmas. We will eat the bread as part of our dinner, and sing Christmas carols. We will also look at pictures of former Christmases, and talk about what we want to see happen this year.

During the week of December 5, I share with my family how God announced the birth of Jesus to Joseph and Mary. In response, the couple traveled to Bethlehem where Jesus was born (a “journal” of this trip can be found in the book Advent Journeys). We bake a Birthday Cake in order to tell the story of Christmas from Luke 2:1-7. We sing songs, and then eat dinner as a picnic by the Christmas tree. Joseph and Mary ate picnic lunches as they traveled. We sing songs during this celebration.

During the week of December 12, I share with my family the story of the shepherds. During the week I try to take them to see a pasture with sheep in it. For supper on Shepherd week, I build a fire in the fireplace. We roast hot dogs, and can have s'mores. The shepherds cooked their meal over a real fire. We tell the story of the Shepherds from Luke 2:8-20. We string popcorn on the Christmas tree. We also prepare Christmas cards. As the angels announced the Birth of Jesus to the shepherds, we tell our friends of our love for Jesus.

During the week of December 19, I will tell the story of the Magi. Our special foods are sugar cookies and eggnog because the Magi lived such rich lives. We might eat steak, or a similar meal. Or we go out (if not planned for another night) to burger king, where we wear crowns, and talk about the Kings. We read the story from Matthew 2:1-12. We also look at the decorations on our tree.

Christmas is for sharing; please consider sharing the book Advent Journeys this year with others. A reading each day will enhance this season and make it more meaningful than other years. As you read, share your readings with others to encourage them. I have been amazed as people shared with me the blessing they found in reading this book. Several non-believers and skeptics were given this book, were captured by the first chapter and read the book, discovering for the first time the real meaning of the Christmas story. Pray about who you know who would benefit by reading Advent Journeys ... and then order copies (so you will have them to give to friends on Thanksgiving Day). The publisher’s website (CreateSpace owned by Amazon.com) is listed here: Order the book through CreateSpace. When you give Advent Journeys to others as a gift, you will reap the blessing of having them share from their perspectives the discoveries and joys they receive from the book.

Parts of a Christmas Plan

The Christmas season ... Christmas day ... each of these hold more meaning when pre-planning takes place. Today, I want to share the parts of a good Christmas plan and a tool which will help make sure the plan falls into place (and is not consumed by the business of the Christmas Season).

The first part of the plan is to establish spiritual themes. I give each week of Advent (beginning the Sunday after Thanksgiving, November 27 this year) a theme. On my website these are: 1) Prophecy; 2) The Journey of Joseph & Mary; 3) The Shepherds; 4) The Magi. Then, each day I mark in the calendar two verses (an Old Testament and a New Testament) verse to share. These can be found in a calendar on my website under the tab for Advent.

The second thing I do is to take a look at my personal calendar. Days when work demands my attention need to be more self-directed; days (weekends) when I am less consumed will become valuable family times because I plan them (early, now) for my family. Long ago I decided if I do not have three days (worship at church, a family night, and an activity day) for my family, I am too busy. The Bible commands us to pass our faith on to the next generation. If I cannot successfully pass on my faith to my children, I have failed.

Next I look at community calendars. Many great things are happening in our community that are worth sharing with my family. Churches have musicals and family days. Museums and towns themselves offer special events and concerts linked to Christmas. Many communities have live Nativities and walk through dramas, such as Walk Through Bethlehem in our community. These events share ideas and fun far beyond what we could provide for our families individually. The events also help children understand that others also feel the spiritual element of Christmas is important.

After unmovable work events and community events are logged on my calendar, I set a family night each week in order to re-tell parts of the Christmas story in a fun way. I place these days as unmovable events on our family calendar. These events (I will share more tomorrow, and each Monday) include a special meal, an opportunity to read a portion of the Christmas story, times of singing, and surprises.

With the calendar planned, I produce a tool which will make sure no day is forgotten during the Christmas rush. This tool is the simple paper chain we made as children. On the outside of each link I place the date (like November 27). On the inside I place the two Bible verses to be read, and the activities I have planned for each day. My children make sure I take off the link for the day each morning. With the promise given in print each day, there is no going back.

These ideas are contained on my website, and linked to the book Advent Journeys.

Christmas on a Child’s Level

Christmas is a wonderful time of year.  We talk about Hope, Peace, Joy and Love.  We light candles, and in church we enjoy wonderful worship services.  Life is busy during December with events and parties and various celebrations.  We spend time in stores shopping for those we love, and for those we are obligated to buy for.  And we come home exhausted because of all our activities.

But have you ever looked at the Advent season through the eyes of your child?  Hope and Peace are concepts which are  often too difficult for young children to grasp.  (Joy and Love can also be difficult depending on how they are presented.)  The more we are gone for events, the less time we spend with our children.  And we drag our children on shopping trips only the hear them whine because they want us to go to the toy department rather than understanding we must select just the right gifts for family members, friends, co-workers and others.

The result of all this can be boredom, fatigue and hearing our children whine.

Christmas must be better.  The season can be a foundation of learning and joy if we manage our time well.  But during December, that means we must plan our time ahead so it does not get ahead of us.  On my regular website called KosherCopy I have included free resources under the Advent 2015 tab to help parents plan.  I have developed and shared this plan for thirty years.  The plan has been used in my family with my children with great success.  If you will work with the plan and use it, it can change your family’s Christmas.

I often tell parents the greatest gift you can give your children at Christmas, the gift of Love is spelled TIME.  Your children want undivided time with you more than anything else.  And in a season where time is limited, you must plan ahead in order to share this commodity in love.  Which is why I have put free resources for planning on my website.

Development of an Advent plan for children begins with your personal calendar and the free resources  on my website.  Your calendar will show what obligations you have which can not be moved.  Under the headings:

ADVENT WEEK ONE - ZECHARIAH THE PRIEST

ADVENT WEEK TWO - JOSEPH AND MARY

ADVENT WEEK THREE - THE SHEPHERDS

ADVENT WEEK FOUR - THE MAGI -  select an activity to place on your calendar to do as a gift for your children each day of December.  Each day - no exceptions.  You will notice that some activities require undivided time and attention to your children.  These are to be placed on days which are most open on your calendar … and reserved so nothing else can crowd in.  Other activities require only a few resources (which you must make available), and almost no time.  These are to be placed on busy days.  You will find that planning ahead for December, placing ideas on your calendar and having the resources available before Thanksgiving will buy you time and great Peace in December. (Yes, your children are quiet and better behaved when you keep them busy).

The activities from the calendar should be developed according to your child’s age and interests.  Include activities and events in your community (concerts, readings for children at the library, etc….) in your community as part of the plan and your giving of time.  Then take and place these on a calendar for your children.  (I made paper chains: one link for each day with two scriptures and one promised activity.  We took the link off at breakfast each morning so my children could hold me to the promise.)  Day after day you will notice your children becoming more involved in the message (not the mess) of Christmas … learning the true meaning Christ wants us to learn in this, His season, which will bring great Hope to your children.  

Hope, Peace, Joy and Love can be part of your Advent Journey with the investment of planning ahead and reserving a little time.  (the plan links to our book , Advent Journeys which can be read to children grade 3 and above)