Day 6 of 12 Days of Christmas Giveaways (with Ruth Chou Simons)

Join us for the 12th Annual 12 Days of Christmas Giveaways at karenehman.com.

*Give Away has Ended*

I don’t have six geese a-laying for you today but I am sure our giveaway guest could paint a lovely water-color picture of them if I did! It is Day Six of my 12th annual 12 Days of Christmas Giveaways and the talented artist and author Ruth Chou Simons is joining us with a fabulous prize. If you’re just joining in, be sure to start at Day 1 here.

But first, here is another Christmastime idea for you!

Day 6: No More Christmas Without Christ

Christmas without CHrist? It happens all the time.

How odd it must seem to God to see a world “celebrating” the birth of His son, even going so far as to put his name in the title, when in reality, he is absent from much of the hoopla. Oh, don’t get me wrong. I love me some hoopla! I would never want Christmas to be serious and stuffy; more funeral-like than fun. But isn’t much of the hoopla all about the trivial? It results in nothing more than a glorified celebration of winter. Or retail shopping. Or a few guilt-easing coins tossed into the red metal bucket with a clink.

Then it is back to “Me, me, ME!!!!!”

What’s a gal to do?

In the midst of the “me-ism” (that even we moms can get caught up in—” Hint, hint dear family: I sure would love that new piece of jewelry!”) I try to remember two goals of Christmas:

Make it about Christ.

Do it for Christ.

Make it about Christ.

If you look carefully, He is all around.

And secondly, do it for Christ.

Are there lonely, left-out, sick or sad people that cross your path? Do something for them.

  •       Shovel a driveway after a heavy snowfall.
  •       Go help decorate or address Christmas cards for a shut-in.
  •       Serve in a soup kitchen, homeless shelter, or house for battered women.
  •       Make snowmen outside the windows of nursing home patients or on the lawn of a children’s hospital.
  •       Scrape random windshields at the grocery store on a snowy and busy shopping day.
  •       Take a child whose parents have recently divorced to buy a gift for his mom or dad if you fear the ex-spouse will not do so this year.

Our family has done all of the above, and more. We’ve made it such an aim of our holidays to “do” rather than to “get”, that now our kids know no different.

Now, lest you think we are wonder family, let me assure you right now that the above activities haven’t always been done with a cheerful and cooperative attitude (parents included!) but when you are consistent, something happens.

Your kids will miss it terribly if you stop.

So as this season rolls on, remember…

Make it about Christ.

Do it for Christ.

And don’t forget to throw in a boatload of fun. Jesus’ birthday party should be a blast!

Day 6 Giveaway

My guest today is Ruth Chou Simons of Gracelaced. She’s giving away her beautiful Practicing Praise: A Year in the Psalms 2020 Calendar. Each month is adorned with a watercolor painting + a portion of a verse of truth that is worthy of rehearsing over and over again. As each month ends you can cut out the print + scripture memory card.

Ruth Chou Simons \\ Day 6 of 12 Days of Christmas Giveaways at karenehman.com.

Giveaway rules are listed below. Enjoy!

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Ruth Chou Simons

Ruth Chou Simons is a bestselling author, entrepreneur, and speaker. She shares her journey of God’s grace intersecting daily life with word and paintbrush through an online shoppe at GraceLaced.com, an art and lifestyle brand that adorns the gospel through collectible, meaningful, and truth-filled products. Ruth and her husband, Troy, are grateful parents to six boys—their greatest adventure. Ruth’s first book, GraceLaced, won a 2018 Christian Book Award. Connect with Ruth here on Instagram.

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12 Days of Christmas Giveaways Rules

  1. U.S. Addresses only please.
  2. You can comment on all 12 days (once per person) up until midnight Pacific time, Sunday, December 22. Each day will be linked below for easy reference.
  3. One daily winner will be chosen from each day’s comments.
  4. To enter to win the Grand Prize (worth over $150 and includes a $75 Amazon gift card, and two admission tickets (with meet-and-greet) to a concert with award-winning country music artist, Granger Smith, comment on, and share all 12 posts. You can use the share buttons below or repost and share on Instagram (my fave!) and tag me @karenehman.
  5. All winners (including Grand Prize) will be announced here on the blog on Monday, December 23, and contacted via email. Please allow 4-6 weeks to receive your prizes. 
  6. If you’re not already subscribed, click HERE and you’ll receive an email notification each day of our series, plus my Bless Don’t Stress devotional.

DAY 6 GIVEAWAY QUESTION:

What is one act of kindness you’d like to try at this time of year?

Let us know in the comments and you’ll be entered in today’s giveaway. Remember, if you want to enter to win the grand prize, you must comment on and share all twelve days.

Affiliate links may be included. We only recommend products we know our readers will love!

Day 1 with Candace Cameron Bure

Day 2 with Alena Pitts

Day 3 with Jackie Drew/RadJoy

Day 4 with Courtney Joseph

Day 5 with Trillia Newbell

Day 7 with Phylicia Masonheimer

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398 Comments

  1. As an aspiring occupational therapist in my first semester of grad school, my goal this time of year is to volunteer more with different populations of people and just spread joy and positivity to them during this magical season!!

  2. Something new I’d like to try? Keeping up with my family usually keeps me hopping. We take a day for a special family date, though, and we start it with a simple mission project and a goal to go and do nice things for people. We usually end up at stores, returning carts for people, and passing out candy canes to clerks and people working, and then having dinner as a family. It’s always a great day.

  3. We packed bags to hand out at the retirement homes. Some of the residents never have visitors and don’t get any gifts.

  4. I like A comment put on here a few below mine about kindness towards her husband! Yes! Lots of time mine also gets my leftovers, which is not much by the end of the day. Going to pray and work on this.

  5. My 11 year old daughter and I along with a few ladies at church bought and wrapped blankets that one of the ladies embroidered initials on them and also filled large stockings for the teenage girls at the local girls home. It was a rewarding experience for us all, but especially to my daughter and I since she was adopted through a Childrens Home. She was so happy to happy to spread love to these girls she has never met and it makes a mama’s heart happy too.

  6. I want to bake Christmas cookies and deliver them to my elderly neighbors with my one year old son so they can visit with a baby because they all love him.

  7. We always bake and deliver goodies to neighbors. This year I have 3 friends in another state who have recently lost loved ones. We are sending them Cardinal ornaments this year .

  8. Have met several neighbors in the new neighborhood that I live in. Some are older people. I would like to bake them some bread and take it to them before Christmas and let them know that we are so happy to have met them and want to be good neighbors and friends.

  9. Love these suggestions! I’d like to try and notice someone that’s struggling and provide them with a gift secretly to life their spirits.

  10. Have met several neighbors in the new neighborhood that I live in. Some are older people. I would like to bake them some bread and take it to them before Christmas.

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