One of my favourite things about Christmas time is taking all four of my kids to see Santa. Not because it is some magical moment where they can sit on the fat man’s lap. Not because it is a time for them to share pages of wishes with the jolly old elf. No, my reason is the simple fact that trying to get four little girls on Santa’s lap to take a photo always equals fantastic pictures.

Christmas. The time of year where we buy ridiculous amounts of toys, gadgets, clothes, and random stocking stuffers. The time of year where we all loosen our pants after each family meal, or holiday party because we have once again over indulged. The magical time of year where it is all about us.

Except it’s not.

Matthew 2:9b-11

And the star they had seen in the east guided them to Bethlehem. It went ahead of them and stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were filled with joy! 11 They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

Sometimes it is so easy to get caught up in the hoopla of Christmas. It is fun to give your kids gifts, and to go to parties where you can eat all the amazing goodies. But sometimes we get so caught up in a Christmas that is about us and ours that we forget the meaning behind Christmas.

Jesus came to Earth as a helpless babe, to grow up into an amazing man who died on a cross for our sins. So this Christmas season let’s think outside the Christmas Tree by doing things for others.

Here is a great starter list for ways you and your families can focus on others this Christmas season and share God’s love.

* All links are for Canadian groups, but most of them have American counterparts.

1. Reverse Advent Box

This is such a neat idea I have found floating around the internet. Instead of opening a little window for a waxy piece of chocolate each day, you fill a basket with food bank needs. Every day you put a new item in a basket and at the end of Advent you can take your new stockpile to your local food bank and donate it as a family. Here is a great list to get you started.

2. Buy a farm – or at least some animals

How cool would it be to add a few animal figurines to your kids stockings, and each animal represented a gift to a community. You can buy different animals that help provide a livelihood and food for families that need it most. Check out World Hope, Compassion, and World Vision for animals to buy (along with other gifts that you can give). This is a great introduction for your kids into the world around them, the issue of poverty, and how we can help.

3. Sponsor a child

Does your family like to do a family gift each year? Does it normally end up being a board game that gets dusty in the closet? Or a movie that gets watched and forgotten? How about you decide as a family to sponsor a child. This is a long lasting gift that can bring your family closer together as you write your child letters, draw them pictures, and pick out stickers to mail them. This is a gift that your family can grow together with. Check out Compassion (https://www.compassion.ca/) and sponsor a child today.

 

4. Spend a lunch hour at a soup kitchen

Here in Halifax you have few different options like Souls Harbour, or Saint George’s Round Church. You may need to wait for your kids to be a bit older for this one, but it is a great chance to expose your kids to the fact that not everyone even in our own neighbourhoods have a roof over their head, or a hot meal at night.

5. Ring a bell with Salvation Army

The Salvation Army uses the money raised via their Christmas Kettles to help local families to have a better Winter and Christmas. Sign up to Ring the Bell this season. You can do it alone, or bring your family with you. It would be great for kids to see the generosity of strangers, and for strangers to see kids taking time to raise money for those in need. Contact your local Salvation Army to find out how you can help.

6. Shovel a driveway

Decide as a family that the next snow fall you will find a driveway or two to shovel out. Maybe you have an elderly neighbour, or a single parent who lives near you. Shovel their driveway and leave them a card wishing them a Merry Christmas.

 

 

 

7. Christmas Goodies for others

I know we all have our favourite Christmas treat. For some it is Grandma’s shortbread, or Great Uncle Bill’s peanut butter balls. So take some time to whip up a few batches of treats, wrap them up and take them to a local emergency station (police, EMT, Fire). Many times these amazing people are apart from their families during the holidays and can always use some good cheer.

8. A Giving Tree

Many malls around Christmas time have trees set up with tags all over the branches. Each tag represents a child or family with their needs. Taking a tag and going shopping for another child or family can be something you do as a family. It is a great way for your kids to see the joy in giving to others.

9. Visit a seniors complex or home

Many times seniors are alone at Christmas. If their families have moved away they have no one to be with during the holidays. Spend an afternoon doing puzzles with these wonderful people. They always have great stories of life to tell.

10. Give Blood

Find out where you can give blood during this season (and all year). This is a great way to help others.

 

 

So get out this year with your family and make a difference. Share the love of Christ through your actions.

Dear nursery workers,

I want to start by saying how thankful I am for each one of you. You take your turn in the nursery like a champ. You willingly wipe runny noses, and tears of little ones who are not yours. You get down on the floor and play cars, dolls, and act out Noah’s Ark to entertain little ones who are not always sure about the whole nursery situation.

To the workers who still have nursery aged kids thank you! I know when your week comes around you are not always in the mood to wipe more noses of little people. I know how much you want to be in the service with other adults and drink a hot cup of coffee. But you take your turn and you love on those babies, and if you are lucky you will drink a lukewarm cup of coffee. I appreciate your willing hearts to fill in when others cannot make it. I know it is not your favourite form of ministry. I know you are tired and just want to have your cup filled through worship and the message instead of empting the last little bit of your cup in the nursery. Thank you for giving.

To my workers who no longer have little ones, or kids of your own but willingly agree to be on the nursery rotation. You could easily say that you did your time when your own kids were young. You could say that you don’t have kids so nursery is not your area of ministry. But you don’t. You sign up, and you let me move you all over the place when I need a last minute change in the schedule. You snuggle my own kids well after service is over and I take forever to come and get my own toddler. I see you when you arrive early and sit on the floor and read books to the little ones who have also arrived early (usually that means all of my children tucked around you). Thank you so much for giving back.

You all give so much love to these babies and toddlers. You build a special bond that will grow as they do. As they get older they will see you doing ministry and they will know the importance because they will remember the snuggles and all of the books. Thank you for sharing Jesus with my kids and all of the other little ones. Thank you for taking the time to serve in an area that is usually the hardest to fill with volunteers. I appreciate everything that you do, and I want you to know that your work does not go un-noticed.

yours truly, Deborah

aka the pastor who schedules you to wipe noses and have little germy people crawl all over you.