As I’m beginning to raise my family and think of traditions I want to incorporate into our Christmas holiday season, I find myself really wanting to focus on Christ. The other fun stuff – Santa, gifts, Christmas lights and decor – all seem to come naturally. But focusing on Christ doesn’t always. So I’ve been very open to ideas of how I can help my children see how Christ is the most important thing we think about this season.
I want them to focus on service, giving, and love. And I’m not saying take all the fun stuff out because we will definitely do that too! But I want to mix it with recognizing that we are celebrating the birth of Christ.
An excellent resource to help come up with ideas is
12 Gifts for Christ.
In this book, Merrilee Boyack gives you twelve different things to give to Christ. I love this! I’ve often heard, “What can I give to Christ?” And then my mind goes blank and I have no idea. But Merrilee helps you with that. She gives you great ideas!
With each of the twelve gifts, she tells a personal story, shares quotes from prophets, apostles, and other authors, and then things you can do. This is my favorite part – she has what you can study in your scriptures personally, family devotionals, Family Home Evening ideas, and Christmas ideas for each gift!
I love that she gives you the option to use this book how you want. You can do a FHE activity each month all year long that is centered on Christ. You can use it for the month of December. And you can use it for personal study.
My husband and I went through all her ideas and picked some things out he’s going to do in his seminary class. I did the first personal scripture study idea today (read and ponder The Living Christ). And there are some great ideas that I definitely want to use with my children especially as they get a little older.
If you are looking for family traditions or ways to come closer to Christ, this is definitely a book you need! I love her ideas and especially how they can be used in families with children of all ages.
For other ways to help your Christmas be centered on Christ you can check out my post FHE Ideas for December and Fun Christ-centered Activities.
Craftynight owls says
Never heard of the book. thanks for sharing with us.
Tara Davis says
Thanjk you for sharing! I really want to get this book and read it now!
Kathleen says
I wish this would have been out when my kids were little. What a great gift idea.