5 Ways to Keep Christ at the Center of Your Family’s Christmas Celebrations

1. Cultivate Gratitude

Isaiah 9:6 says, "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."

The holidays are a chance to express our great gratitude for the child that was given unto us so we might have hope. We may not enjoy every part of the holidays, but we can remind our souls that the gift of salvation is worth being thankful for every day. Each chance we get we need to invite our kids to give thanks for the child born so that we might have access to God's Kingdom.

Gratitude keeps our minds present, as when we are invited to give thanks, we are invited to take notice. What is good about this season? What celebrations bring joy to our lives? How would the holidays be different without the hope of Jesus at the center of the season? How has the gift of Jesus changed your lives?

Reflect on these questions and take time to give thanks for the so many gifts we have been given by our God over the holidays.

2. Serve and Give as a Family

Our kids GET the receiving part of this season! Even if we keep our giving relatively small in our homes, it is still likely the highlight of Christmas for them! What takes a bit more effort as a family is to take time to serve and give to others over the holidays.

Giving of ourselves is one of the most valuable practices we can engage in at Christmas. Christ gave his life so we might live! If we are to follow his example, we must give sacrificial and loving gifts and serve our communities.

Get creative; how can your family be abundantly generous this holiday season?

Can you volunteer at church, sing or visit with those who are isolated or alone, make cards for those incarcerated, sponsor a child in foster care, pack a box for kids in need across the globe, serve meals to the needy, sponsor a family that can't provide Christmas for their family, or bring holiday joy to a family dealing with a medical crisis over the holidays?

These are just a few ideas to get you started! We can make Christmas more about giving and less about ourselves in so many ways. As we give, we are reminded that we give because he first gave all he had to us!

Photo credit: Operation Christmas Child Facebook

3. Observe Advent

Advent is a wonderful way to build in time for reflection and gratitude into the busy Christmas season.

Each week of Advent has a theme for us to meditate on over the weeks leading up to Christmas day, beginning four Sundays before Christmas. The first week light a purple candle for hope (or promise), week two light a purple candle for preparation (or waiting or prophecy), week three light a pink or purple candle for joy (or peace), and week four ight a purple or pink candle is for love (or adoration).

What is really fun is that you can take this tradition and modify it to work in your home. Your prayers, crafts, discussions, and other planned activities can be changed to match the age and stage of life your family is in. Find a resource that works well for your family, and end each day of December leading up to Christmas joyfully reflecting on the gift of Jesus!

4. Slow Down as a Family

December seems like a time when our calendars fill up! So much so we lose all our sweet down time as a family during this month. I invite you to push back on the inclination that you have to do all the things in order to do Christmas right! I propose that a slower, less full, and hurried Christmas with lots of family time baked into the season is the best way to add meaning to the celebrations.

Your kids learn the most from you! It's hard to really share with them a clear message about who Christ is when your family is just rushing from one activity to the next. Let some of Christmas break be a true break. Be home together. Bake together. Read together. Rest together. And pray together.

It's in the sweet, unhurried moments shared that we can give our families the gift of our time, and also, we have the chance to share with them why this season is so special to those who follow Christ.

5. Spend Less This Christmas

Holiday spending really is out of control! We are going into debt in order to give items to people who don't even need them out of a cultural obligation that has nothing to do with loving Jesus. I'm not against gifts, but every year, as I purchase so many, my heart actually feels grieved that this excess is defining such a holy season. Every year I am looking for more ways to pull back and instead lean into Jesus.

Some ways to spend less are to create a secret Santa exchange for extended family rather than buying for everyone. Limit kids' gifts to 3 items or to getting something they need, want, something to read, and something to wear. Set a budget for holiday spending so you are not tempted to go outside your means. Do a white elephant exchange with friends or family. Ask family members to limit their spending to ease the obligation to give reciprocal gifts.

Spending less makes more space for us to be more generous towards the lost and hurting over the holidays. It also eases some of the stress we feel as adults over our financial decisions. When we model restraint, we show our kids that this season is about more than what culture tells us. It's about loving Jesus and giving thanks for him!

Photo credit: Getty Images_svetikd