Evidently two security officers hired to guard the gate at a local military installation got into a fight one day while at their post. The argument got really hot and both of them pulled their weapons - 10 shots were fired. Neither one of them hit a thing! It's a true story -
If we're not careful that's how the Christmas season happens - we shoot and shoot and shoot - but never hit anything; much less our intended target. Books and articles abound on how to keep the focus on Jesus during Christmas - but I'm normally so busy sending in sugar cookies to this school, gift bags to that school and trying to keep the laundry done that those books don't get a whole lot of attention in our home.
This is one of those times when traditions really become a gift. Like the cruise control on a car - those traditions can keep you up to speed on the journey your family is taking. So, take a minute, pray and add maybe one new tradition to your Christmas this year. For our family especially - since we relocate so often - these time honored traditions become "home".
Here are the few we do - I'd love to hear a few that you do - let's just promise each other not to get overwhelmed....
* Birthday cake for Jesus - it's dessert for Christmas dinner after we read the Christmas story. The kids love baking it.
* Prayer before presents - once the kids have come down and seen what Santa's brought, we play and enjoy for a while - then daddy leads us in a prayer of thanksgiving for all we have, all we're about to get and for all the kids around the world who may not be enjoying Christmas at all.
* Christmas Bingo - my grandmother started this and I loved it as a kid. Now I am enjoying my mom share it with my kids every year. We play bingo Christmas Eve as a family and enjoy silly prizes before we go to bed.
If we're not careful that's how the Christmas season happens - we shoot and shoot and shoot - but never hit anything; much less our intended target. Books and articles abound on how to keep the focus on Jesus during Christmas - but I'm normally so busy sending in sugar cookies to this school, gift bags to that school and trying to keep the laundry done that those books don't get a whole lot of attention in our home.
This is one of those times when traditions really become a gift. Like the cruise control on a car - those traditions can keep you up to speed on the journey your family is taking. So, take a minute, pray and add maybe one new tradition to your Christmas this year. For our family especially - since we relocate so often - these time honored traditions become "home".
Here are the few we do - I'd love to hear a few that you do - let's just promise each other not to get overwhelmed....
* Birthday cake for Jesus - it's dessert for Christmas dinner after we read the Christmas story. The kids love baking it.
* Prayer before presents - once the kids have come down and seen what Santa's brought, we play and enjoy for a while - then daddy leads us in a prayer of thanksgiving for all we have, all we're about to get and for all the kids around the world who may not be enjoying Christmas at all.
* Christmas Bingo - my grandmother started this and I loved it as a kid. Now I am enjoying my mom share it with my kids every year. We play bingo Christmas Eve as a family and enjoy silly prizes before we go to bed.
1 comment:
We are new at this mommy and daddy deal so just now working on our own traditions but growing up we always had family over for a big dinner and to exchange gifts with our extended family, then off to church and the church Christmas pagent. Christmas day was a big breakfast and presents between the family:)
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