We are all ready for Christmas!!! We have our tree up and gifts underneath, lights are on the house, and the wreath is hung by the door. What do these things have to do with the real meaning of Christmas??? I love the fun and celebration as much as the next person, but the decorations and shopping somehow swallows the true meaning of Christmas. We are celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ our savior! Without whom we would all be lost souls.
I am having trouble teaching my children the story of Jesus's birth. They seem to lose interest when I am telling them or reading it to them. We talk about the nativity characters, but they still call the baby Moses and just want to play with the characters. I told them they each have 3 gifts under the tree because Jesus got 3 gifts. They still seem uninterested. I am praying for an interest in their heart to learn this wonderful sweet precious story. I know they are both so young, but I still think they can grasp the story as a whole. I want nothing but the best for my children, and I know that the best thing for them this Christmas is to celebrate the birth of our KING!
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
5 comments:
"What are your expectations for Christmas? Do your expectations match reality?
All of us want the focus of Christmas to be on Christ, and we tend to be appalled when our children tear through presents but sigh with sleepiness as we read through the story of Christ’s birth. But they are children.
“When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child…
Don’t misunderstand what I am saying. We don’t toss the deeper meaning of Christmas aside and say, “Oh well. Someday they’ll get it.” We continue to draw the focus of Christmas back to Christ. This is our holiday, not the world’s. We celebrate the coming of Christ because we as believers know the impact and magnitude of Christ’s arrival most poignantly.
We must also realize, however, that our children are just that: children. If we expect them to respond to Christmas like children, our expectations will meet reality. Then we can joyfully lead them by the hand into a more mature understanding of the Gospel. We can smile at them with the sweet knowledge that God has much work to do in their lives. We can acknowledge that we adults, too, have but a vague, dimly lit understanding of the fullness of Christ’s ministry while on earth.
Enjoy those little ones. Their wide-eyed wonder at our earthly celebrations will fully mature someday when they are struck by the gravity and meaning of the grace of God in the midst of their sin.
…but when I became a man, I put away childish things.” I Corinthians 13:11"
K, my comment is now longer than your post?! :) this was a great little post on a blog called "preschoolers and peace." i thought it was a gentle reassurance that my kids aren't the only one's that aren't nearly excited about the birth of jesus as the presents under the tree. jess, in time they will be able to grasp how huge the best present ever given to them really is...in time. :) you are a great mom and i love that they think that the baby is moses!!!! sounds like something molly beth would say!!!
no worries!!! :)
Amen, sister! I love the 3 gift idea!
It will come...they are hearing you and one day it will all come together! I feel that deep down they do understand...it's just hard not to be excited about the "Christmas" season! Keep pressing on! Don't ever think its not worth your time...you know they hear some of what they say by what sweet innocence comes out of their mouths!;)
I loved this post...thanks for sharing your sweet thoughts so graciously!
It will come...they are hearing you and one day it will all come together! I feel that deep down they do understand...it's just hard not to be excited about the "Christmas" season! Keep pressing on! Don't ever think its not worth your time...you know they hear some of what they say by what sweet innocence comes out of their mouths!;)
I loved this post...thanks for sharing your sweet thoughts so graciously!
Jessica, they are hearing you.
In the meantime, let them bake Jesus a birthday cake and put the nativity figures on the cake (check out my blog to see the one the girls baked). We do this every year.
I also have about 6 different children's books that tell the story...each just a smidgeon differently and with different artists.
I had the girls choose who would read, and which book they would read. They chose dad, first, then mom.
then, we asked questions (just like in BSF). They loved being able to answer the questions.
you are already praying..God will definitely agree with you on those prayers!
pw
Post a Comment