It’s probably ironic to say this, but it’s not difficult to end up celebrating Christmas without the “Christ” in it.
How is that possible? you might ask. After all, many of us will be singing the usual Christmas carols in church (and perhaps listening to them in shopping malls), reflecting on sermons proclaiming the good news, and maybe even taking part in evangelistic activities organised by the church.
But, when it comes to celebrating Christmas in our own homes, Jesus can sometimes end up taking a backseat. As Dr. Rob and Amy Rienow, who run the US-based Visionary Family Ministries, observe, it can be easy for families to get distracted from the deeper message of Christmas at home.
“Here’s the reality for a lot of Christian families,” says Rob. “There can be a lot of food, a lot of fun and family, lots of presents, but no intentionality when it comes to spiritual focus, prayer, giving focus to God’s Word, really giving attention to Jesus.”
Yet, he is quick to add, it’s not because families don’t care about keeping Christ at the centre of Christmas. Rather, he says, it can happen because “they don’t plan”.
“There can be a lot of food, a lot of fun and family, lots of presents, but no intentionality when it comes to spiritual focus, prayer, giving focus to God’s Word, really giving attention to Jesus.”
It takes deliberate effort to make sure that our Christmas celebrations at home continue to revolve around the person who really matters—Jesus, who came to earth 2,000 years ago to save us from sin. And these plans, stress Rob and Amy, need to start early.
Here are some tips and ideas from them:
1. Start a Family Advent Calendar
Many churches celebrate Advent, the liturgical season which looks forward to the Messiah’s arrival from around end-November and which culminates in Christmas. During this season, churches often ensure that Bible readings, devotionals, and other activities revolve around Christmas, so that parishioners are regularly reminded of the coming of Christ and what it means for them and the world.
We can do that at home, too. Families can start their own DIY Advent calendar, suggests Amy, and come up with creative ways to remind all members about the impact and importance of the birth of Jesus.
For example, the calendar can include a simple roster for the kids to take turns to talk about something that is related to Christmas at family devotion time, dinnertime, or while saying grace at mealtimes.
But, Amy stresses, don’t forget to make it fun for the young ones, so that the Advent calendar doesn’t become a chore or yet another to-do task.
For example, you can have the kids pick out chocolates from a basket each day, with chocolates bearing the names of people or families that you want to pray for. “So whoever gets that piece that day is responsible for praying for or telling the others throughout the day that this is the family we are going to pray for,” Amy explains.
Such a calendar will not only help to build anticipation for Christmas, but also teach the young ones to focus on others during the holiday season.
Or, the family Advent calendar can have family members take turns to do something nice for each other or others around them (like a “Secret Santa” game).
Such a calendar, say the Rienows, will not only help to build anticipation for Christmas, but also teach the young ones to focus on others—and not just themselves—during the holiday season.
2. Use an Advent Devotional or Book at Devotion Time
Another way to build up excitement and keep Christmas uppermost in the family’s mind is by using an Advent devotional or book during devotion time. Just as churches might do with their sermons and Bible readings, having the kids read Christmas stories each day can help them remember what Christmas is all about.
As the Rienows note, keeping Christ at the centre of Christmas doesn’t need to be a major event: it can be built into the daily routine. By doing so, they draw inspiration from God’s instructions to parents in Deuteronomy 6:6–8—to impress God’s commandments on children and “talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up”.
3. Spend Some Time Reflecting on Christmas
With exams ending, and the school year and—hopefully—work schedules winding down, the last few weeks of the year can give families an opportunity to slow down and spend a little more time with God and His Word.
“It allows you to have some special quiet family moments that you may not have had when life is busy,” notes Amy, who sees it as an opportunity to slow down, and take some time to read God’s Word and reflect on His goodness.
But, she adds again, families don’t have to stress themselves out by making this a “major event”: they can just take 10 minutes a day to pray for each other, talk about what God has done for them, sing a Christmas hymn or two, and read a little more of the Bible.
By doing so, you can help your children to develop a deeper hunger and love for God’s Word, such that they might be like the psalmist, “whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night” (Psalm 1:2).
4. Set Aside Time to Serve
Just as Abraham was blessed to be a blessing to others (Genesis 12:2), we, too, are all called to give to others just as we have received from God. And the lead-up to Christmas is a good time to drive home this message in the family.
Consider some simple and practical ways, like getting the kids to help their grandparents with some errands and chores, or inviting a neighbour over for a meal. Or, you can get the whole family to join your church’s voluntary work, such as visiting nursing homes or distributing food and gifts to needy residents—there’s bound to be much of these activities at this time of the year.
“There are simple ways to serve, you don’t have to make it complicated,” observes Amy. She is also big on getting the whole family involved in deciding how they can serve others. “Ask your kids for ideas, they often have great ones!” she advises. “You’ll be surprised, they may not be that difficult to put into action.”
5. Don’t Stress Yourself
Ironically, it can be easy to get so caught up in planning for the family to make sure that Christ stays at the centre of Christmas, that we end up turning this good intention into a stressful list of to-dos.
Both Rob and Amy take pains to emphasise this: don’t stress over it. While they advocate advance planning in November, they caution against letting the ideas and plans overwhelm families such that they miss the very essence of their goal.
“The reality is, you might end up doing just one of the three or four things you wanted to do, and that’s just fine,” says Rob. “One or two is better than zero, and that’s what often happens to us as we get swamped with the fun of Christmas.”
So, keep your plans simple and doable, commit them to the Lord, and keep looking to Christ as a family this coming Christmas season!
This article was adapted from a podcast, “Planning a Christ-centered Christmas”, by Visionary Family Ministries. Used with permission.
