Our Christmas Traditions

Now that Thanksgiving is past, it is time to get ready for Christmas!

Part of the magic of Christmas is having family traditions. You might "inherit" traditions from your own parents, or, if you're like me, you might start your own because you didn't have any growing up. Either way, having something that you do together only once a year binds your family together, builds memories, and can also be a teaching moment!

Twenty-four days of socks!

One tradition we have done for the past six years is our advent socks. On a long string, I hang twenty-four Christmas-y socks (twelve pairs). In them, I put scripture passages that narrate the Christmas story, along with an ornament to match the verse. Because I have only twelve ornaments, I alternate the verses with Christmas carols that relate to the verse of the previous day. I also put in little treats or gifts. Every morning, starting on December 1st, we take down a sock, read the verses inside, and hang up the ornament, or sing a 

Christmas carol and enjoy a treat. There are many variations of this stocking idea that you can do. A friend of mine found verses that described a name of Jesus (the Word, the Light of the World, the Bread of Life...) which then became a clue to where a treat is hidden in the house. For example, if the clue was 'Light of the World', the prize was by a light switch or a lamp. At the end of this entry I have listed verses that you can use, if you choose to try this idea this year. 

Our second tradition involves wrapping Christmas picture books, twenty-four of them. Some I own, and some come from the library. I start by wrapping four to six books and placing them under the Christmas tree, and every night, starting on December 1st, a child chooses a book to unwrap and read together. What makes this fun is the surprise of unwrapping the book, the pleasure of reading a book that is a known favorite, discovering new favorites along the way,  and, for mom and dad, not having to listen to the kids ask, "Can we open a present early? Just a peek?" My method is to wrap only a few books at a time (library books always go first), then reuse the old paper to wrap a new book for the following night. (For a list of our favorite Christmas stories, go to my more recent post: Our Favorite Christmas Stories.)

This year, I'm thinking of adding a new tradition. I read about the Kindness Elves (an alternative to the new 'Elf on the Shelf' craze) and thought it was a wonderful way to teach selflessness during the holiday season! Simply hide an elf in the house, along with a note suggesting things "Let's make cookies for our neighbors" or "Help your sister with a task today." Everyday, the elf can give a new suggestion! (Click on the link above for more wonderful ideas.) I don't know if I can juggle this this year with the new baby (besides the fact that I don't have an elf), but maybe if I prepare earlier, I can do this next year.

So those our family's Christmas traditions. What are yours? Please share them with me!

The Names of Jesus-

John 1:1-2~ the Word

John 6:35~ the Bread of Life

John 10:7-10~ the Gate

John 10:14-16~ the Good Shepherd

John 1:29~ the Lamb of God

John 11:25-26~ the Life

John 15:1-8~ the Vine

John 8:12~ the Light of the World

Christmas Story Passages with Corresponding Ornaments and Carols-

(remember that these are only a suggestion, change them to suit your needs or preferences)

Days 1-2) Luke 1:26-38~ Mary, O Come O Come Emmanuel

Days 3-4) Matt 1:18-25~ Joseph, Silent Night

Days 5-6) Luke 2:1-6~ donkey, O Little Town of Bethlehem

Days 7-8) Luke 2:7~ Jesus, Away in the Manger

Days 9-10) Luke 2:8-9~ shepherds, The First Noel

Days 11-12) Luke 2:10-14~ angels, Angels We Have Heard on High

Days 13-14) Luke 2:15-20~ sheep, Go Tell it on the Mountain

Days 15-16) Matt 2:1-6~ Magi, We Three Kings

Days 17-18) Matt 2:7-10~ Magi, O Come All Ye Faithful

Days 19-20) Matt 2:11-12~ Magi, God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen

Days 21-22) Matt 2:13-23~ camel, What Child is This

Days 23-24) John 3:16~ world or dove, Joy to the World

Happy Thanksgiving

To give thanks is to be humble.

It is knowing that you did not do this on your own.

It is to give credit where credit is due.

I am thankful for my writing and musical abilities. Though they've been cultivated over the years, they were also in me from the beginning. I am still amazed at what comes out of my mind sometimes– thoughts from the Creator being communicated through me.

I am thankful for my body. I didn't know about lymph vessels until recently, but I am SO glad they were working in me despite my lack of knowledge. I am thankful for every cell in my body working together to run, to breathe, to think, to form babies.

I am thankful for my husband and six children. They are gifts to me that I do not deserve.

To everyone in the United States, have a blessed Thanksgiving!

To everyone around the world, make your own Thanksgiving today! Take time to give credit where credit is due.

The Body United

Last night, several high schoolers from our church hosted a multi-church worship night. They called it 'Unite'. My husband was asked to be the pastor-in-charge, to which he gladly agreed, because though we don't often attend events like this, we love to support them when we can.

By the time I arrived at the church, the sanctuary was full of teenagers and some adults. The room buzzed with conversation. Loud music thumped through the speakers. I settled in some chairs with my six children and observed the scene.

It's funny how quickly one falls back into old patterns. Even as a thirty-six-year old mom, I felt like a young outsider once again. I was never as pretty as "those" girls. I never had money for "nice" clothes. I was always aloof, on the fringe, not really part of any one group. If I had gone to an event like this as a high schooler, I probably would have hid in a shadow and watched.

But just as quickly, I took hold of these thoughts and held them captive. The youth last night were energetic, passionate, caring. They played a game and eagerly mixed, mingled, and met new people. This was what I needed in high school: a place of acceptance, where boundaries of ethnicity and cliques and social class were torn down. This, I told myself, this is the Body of Christ. And it was beautiful. I wouldn't have felt so alone in my faith if I had had a group like this in my teenage years.

So I pushed away my old fears and joined in the game. A boy was scampering about, trying to find a partner, and I offered myself. The goal was to find something in common with your new friend. He was an eighth-grader; I was well beyond school. He was Korean; me, Chinese. "I play the piano," I suggested. "Me too!" he said. And there, we had our commonality.

While the youth stood and sang in worship, my thoughts wandered back to being the 'girl on the fringe'. How many here are like me? I wondered. I had noticed a girl coming in late with a violin and binder. She stood in the back of the crowd. Another girl sat with her head bowed, not singing. Either she was bored or burdened. I wish I had the time to find out. But with six kids hovering about me (and two taking turns grabbing my legs), it was hard to be conversational. And I had to leave before the event ended, but not before I prayed for those girls, and others who felt like outsiders.

The only thing I would like to change about last night is how all the adults (drivers, youth leaders, parents) stayed in the rear of the room. Yes, this was a youth-run event, but worship is worship, right? This is the Body of Christ, and if we still allow age to divide us, then the Body is not yet whole. But how to change this? Any thoughts?

Simple Pleasures

Give me the endless pastures

And lazy rolling hills

Give me the dreamy clouds above

In a blue so vast and still

Give me the trees' cool shadows

A stained glass room made of leaves

Give me the flowers' dances

A joyous waltz in the breeze

Give me the birds' sweet voices

Their chorus filling the skies

Give me the stars and fireflies

Their light filling my eyes

Give me your hand to hold

And your heart close to my own

Thank God for simple pleasures

His love and mercy made known

All that I have is borrowed

I can't call them my own

Thank God for simple pleasures

His love and mercy made known

Courage for Parents

You are a parent.

Whether it was part of your life plan or not, you are a parent now.

And whether you are alone in this, or have the most amazing partner in the world, you are a Mom. Or a Dad.

And that takes courage.

It takes courage because parenting is hard. There are the usual expectations: sleepless nights; crying during road trips; talking back. Then there are the un-expectations: Losing yourself, only to rediscover a new sense of self; the worry, the pain, the fear, the overwhelming love; having that someone you love break your heart.

Yes, at some point, to some degree, every parent's heart is broken by their child.

It takes courage because you don't get to choose the person who crashes into your life. Your child is autistic, diabetic, a picky eater, strong-willed, deaf– you get what you get, and you're in for the long haul.

That is, if you ARE in for the long haul.

And I hope you are.

If you are dis-couraged, dig deep and find your courage again. Courage is not charging in with confidence; courage is stepping in despite your fear. This is all new territory. No one has ever parented your child before. You are the only one. So be en-couraged.

Day by day. Minute by minute.

Don't give up. You can do it.

Have courage.

Be strong and courageous… for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you. ~Deuteronomy 31:6

An Unexpected Gift

As I think more about Operation Christmas Child, I recall a memory from days long past. Let me take you back to Christmas 1984…

Rita was learning much about her new home: English words, American schools, fireflies and snow– life in suburban Illinois had little in common with life in Hong Kong. But despite the difficulties, she was getting by. First-grade was okay, though making friends was hard…

One day, an unexpected visitor knocked on the apartment door. A girl was there, older than Rita, dressed in a uniform of some sort. She called herself a Girl Scout, and she offered Rita and her sister a gift, in celebration of Christmas. Rita's family had always celebrated Christmas with her church in Hong Kong, but Christmas gifts were new to her. Rita did not understand why this stranger would give her a present, but she was happy to receive it. Inside the gift was a pony, a comb with her name on it, and several other fun items. To this day, she has that pony, and she will always remember that year when she received her first Christmas gift…

And yes, I still have the My Little Pony I received that snowy day. If that gift made such an impression on my six-year-old mind, can you imagine what a shoebox of presents would mean to a boy or girl in an impoverished or disaster-stricken country? 

Again, if you are not familiar with Operation Christmas Child, click on the link to find out more!

Operation Christmas Child

Boxes of Hope

(photo courtesy of Samaritan's Purse)

When I received the shoe box, I was reminded of God's love for me and the hope that I had in Him. I hope and I pray that will be the case for these kids, that whatever they're going through in their lives, they can be reminded that someone out there loves them. But the most important thing of all is that Jesus Christ loves them and cares about them. ~ Alex Nsengimana

After surviving the 1994 genocide in Rwanda, Alex lived at an orphanage, which was where he received his Christmas shoebox. And as simple as a shoebox filled with toys may seem to us, to children like Alex it is a symbol of hope and love. Alex went on the graduate from Bible college in Minnesota and return to his orphanage in Rwanda to help hand out shoeboxes and share with the children the hope and love he knew– and it all started with one shoebox.

I love hearing stories like Alex's. I love seeing photos of the children receiving their boxes, and I always scan the pictures for a recognizable box. Even if I don't find one (and I never do), I picture in my mind my box in the hands of one of the beautiful children of Rwanda, or the Philippines, or Mongolia. Then I pray specifically for that child, that my gift will go beyond the toys and pencils and toothpaste.

And now, it's time again to prepare boxes for Operation Christmas Child! I have been filling shoeboxes for this ministry since I was a teenager, and every year now, I take my children to the store and allow them to pick out items for a child. We search through the toys, the school supplies, and the hygiene items for the perfect gifts. Some of my children chose to use their own money this year to purchase the items, which makes me so proud! All together, we have six shoeboxes packed and ready to go!

If you are not familiar with Operation Christmas Child, it is a ministry of Samaritan's Purse. Guidelines, instructions, and videos are all available at this link: 

Operation Christmas Child

The deadline is November 24th, so hurry! Give a child a present he or she will never forget!