Most Christians are familiar with the seasonal motto “Jesus is the reason for the season.” But it seems that with all the holiday events, shopping, and entertaining that we too often forget to take time to worship and celebrate Christ. There are a few things that we can do during this season that that keep the meaning of Christmas alive in our hearts. I would like to share them with you and maybe they will help you and your family keep Jesus as the center of your holiday celebration.
First, my perennial favorite is A Charlie Brown Christmas. All of the Peanuts gang gets carried away by the commercialism of Christmas. Linus brings them, and us, back to Jesus as he retells the Christmas story. This program should be a part of every family’s Christmas.
Also, I really like The Nativity Story, a movie that was released in 2006. It tells the story of Mary, Joseph, and Jesus in a beautiful way. One of the things that I really liked about this movie is that is captures the culture of the first century.
If you need help with family devotions during this season, check out A Family Advent: Keeping the Savior in the Season. This is a good guide to leading your family in Advent worship that includes devotions and activities.
If you are interested in learning about all the Christian traditions behind Christmas, you will want to read The Origins of Christmas. This is a concise but informative book that will fascinate the reader with the stories behind the various Christmas traditions.
Finally, if you are serious about keeping Jesus at the center of Christmas, then you are going to have to put Santa Clause in his proper place. The best way to do this is to teach our children about the historical St. Nicholas. You will enjoy Saint Nicholas: The Real Story of the Christmas Legend.
Following are some helpful websites:
The Meaning of Christmas: Look Deeper
O Christmas Tree: The Meaning and Origin of the Christmas Tree
St. Nicholas Center: Discovering the Truth about Santa Claus
