Christmas Family Fun - Week 4

Christmas Eve has always been one of my most treasured memories from growing up.  Even as a little girl, I can remember holding a candle INSIDE a church and watching the wax drip down as my family stood together and sang, “Joy to the World!”  As we grew up, the setting changed, and even various members of our family that were able to attend changed, but the special night remained just that – special!

Whether it was the annual “matching family picture” amongst the poinsettias at the front of the church, or watching my sister and husband have a wax-flicking contest (sound dangerous?  Yes it was…), Christmas Eve was such a special night for us.  It usually consisted of 4 or so services (my dad is a pastor, so of course we attended each service put on at our church!), then heading out for a special family dinner at some restaurant we rarely got to go to.  Afterward, we would head home to open that first “Christmas Eve gift” and snuggle up together while watching a Christmas Classic – more-often-than-not we selected “Mickey’s Christmas Carol.”  Christmas Eve was the beginning of “Christmas” for us, and honestly was just as treasured as the next day!  It was a day that was committed to focus on the real reason for the season, and enjoy time with our family.

For our final “Christmas Family Fun” article, we wanted to encourage you to make the most of this entire “Christmas Weekend!”  There are special Christmas Eve services held in churches across America, which means that wherever you are, there’s a place you can go.  Many of them have candlelight services, but if you’d prefer to keep your kids away from the temptation of a “wax-flicking competition” then there are services that refrain from using candles!  There are more serious-focused services, and for families with young kids (like our own!) there's many “Family-friendly services!”  The point is to go ahead and extend your Christmas Tradition and allow it to start the night before.  Take some time, as a family to enjoy a sweet service full of Christmas Songs and moments to remember why we celebrate this precious holiday in the first place.  Then, head to wherever you’re going and spend some time as a family, making your Christmas Eve just as special as the day to follow!

One last thing….

Christmas is on a Sunday this year, which provides an EXTRA SPECIAL opportunity for your family.  Many churches across America are offering Christmas morning services as well, for you to take time out of your Christmas morning to focus on Christ and his birth.  They offer a chance to celebrate HIM along with others, and embrace that He is our reason to celebrate.  Don’t miss this opportunity to train your family, and teach your kids that Jesus is the REASON we celebrate.  It’s easy to make that statement, and hang that artwork (Jesus is the reason for the season) on our wall, but it’s an entirely different thing to live a life that reflects that.  Sure, the service may mean that you can’t remain in your pajamas all 24 hours of your Christmas Day, but I encourage you not to miss out on such a precious teaching opportunity, because you want to stay in your PJ’s.  Let’s keep the main thing, the main thing, this Christmas – Jesus!