CHRISTMAS FOR KIDS - by Linzy Bruno
"Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a son, and they shall call His name Emanuel, which is translated, 'God with us.'' Matthew 1.23
One of the wonderful things my mother did was teach me and my siblings about Jesus. Every Christmas morning, the first thing she did as soon as we were all awake was to ask, "Who wants to put baby Jesus in His bed?" As I recall, that was usually me. Having a nativity scene set up every year and going to midnight mass Christmas Eve were the only other things she did, but they were enough to make an impression.
Every year growing up, Christmas became more about Jesus and less about Santa Claus. At age eight, I started putting together that no human could make it across the whole world in one night. He couldn't fly in a magic sled and there were no elves making toys at the North Pole. But upon learning about Jesus, I knew He was the truth and not a made up story about a fat jolly man dressed in red and white.
Christmas specials on TV and sitting on Santa's lap were fun, but finding out that God so loved the world that He gave His only Son to die for my sins -- and that I'm going to heaven when I die to live out eternity with the Lord – thrilled me to no end.
Prayer for parents: Lord, please help me teach my children about our Savior's birth. I want them to know about Your wondrous works, almighty power and abounding unconditional love. I want to teach them Your way and in Your timing. In Jesus' name. Amen.
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