4th Day of Christmas with Nicki Koziarz
Do you often have Norman Rockwell-like expectations about the holidays — the decorations, the food, the gifts, the activity — laden schedule, the family get-togethers?
There are many areas where women want to exert control ensuring the perfect yuletide season. What if we learned instead to let go of unrealistic expectations and embrace an “out-of-control” Christmas this year: relaxing and relating in a peaceful manner while letting others offer input and ultimately allowing God to call the shots?
Then join the 9000 women who have gotten my free resource From Chaos to Calm: The LET. IT. GO. Christmas Challenge?
Now–before we get to today’s post, I have a HUGE announcement!!!! The winners of the two Kindle Fires from my LET. IT. GO. launch!!!!
The winner who commented on one of the posts in the blog tour is:
Christine Hunt
And the winner from among the gals who signed up for the From Chaos to Calm Challengeis: (well her email is) [email protected]
YAY!!!! Send your home address to [email protected] so we can get your Kindle Fire to you!!!
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Welcome to our 5th annual 12 Days of Christmas giveaways!.
Each day I’ll feature one of my Proverbs 31 sisters offering a recipe, idea or memory and giving away a prize for the day!
Today’s guest?
The enthusiastic servant of Jesus and fabulous speaker:
The Great Santa Debate
It all started at a Christmas party…
The room glowed with the warmth of candles carefully placed on beautifully decorated tabletops.
3 couples sat at our table. We small-talked through our salads, discussed holiday plans through the main course and just as desert was being served, this question was posed to the table by one of the ladies:
“Do you all “do” Santa at your house?”
I squirmed a little in my seat. Sometimes people can get a little opinionated about subjects like this. But being a young mom, I was curious about their responses.
The brave man next to me decided to enter his thoughts first…
He was very clear that Santa was not an acceptable part of the Christmas season for their family.
To him, it seemed to take away the meaning behind the truth of Christmas. His kids never visited Santa at the mall and never spent Christmas Eve night wondering if reindeer were flying over their heads.
They instead exchanged 3 gifts [to represent the wise men], read the Christmas story [Luke 1] and sang Christ-filled carols around the fireplace.
The woman sitting next to him [intensely] listened. She carefully placed her fork down and smiled at her husband as she began to roll through her heart-filled emotions about Santa.
Santa was an enormous role in their Christmas season.
She shared how they left footprints of confectioner’s sugar down the hallway [to look like snow]. Her husband used to stand outside of the kids windows jingling bells, and had even walked along the roof to make it sound like Santa’s sleigh had landed!
It was serious business at their house.
While Santa was a fun role on Christmas in their home, she shared that she knew her children understood the real meaning behind it – the birth of Jesus.
The opposing couple disagreed that her children could not understand the real meaning of Christmas if the focus was on anything but Jesus.
The conversation continued round and round.
As they made their way through this debate, I took note of two things:
Number one: Both couples were very passionate about what they believed.
Number two: Both couples believed their children were receiving the best Christmas’s for their childhood.
They are both excellent parents and are raising great kids.
As parents with little ones, sometimes it’s hard to know what the right thing to do is. Santa or no Santa?
Sometimes it’s easy to take our holiday tradition preferences and turn them into religious laws.
But the truth is: The birth of Jesus is not a tradition. It’s a miracle.
The traditions we bring to our family through the celebration of this miracle is something that accomplishes exactly what both of these couples wanted to do.
They are both successfully leaving warm Christmas memories in their children’s hearts that will last … forever.
When our children are grown and gone they will long for those Christmas nights of singing carols around a fire. They will miss reading the Christmas story or listening for Santa’s footsteps on the roof.
As they pass houses that have lights pinned to the roof, silly snow men blow-ups in the yard and lighted-wire reindeer they will remember you … your home … and your traditions.
Those memories will remind them of your love. Your love will in turn remind them of the greatest gift ever given to them, Jesus Christ.
And that my friends, is something worth debating and the greatest legacy for future generations…
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Now for the giveaway! Nicki is giving away a $10 Starbucks gift card and a year’s subscription to Better Homes and Gardens! To be entered, tell us one thing you love about the greatest gift ever—Baby Jesus!!! Or, just say “The greatest gift is Jesus!”
Remember, you have until Sunday night December 16th to comment on all the posts. One grand prize winner will be chosen from among the gals who post on all 12 days! What the grand prize is will be announced sometime this week (when I figure it out!!!)
The greatest gift of all is Jesus….the Reason for the Season.
Have a God Filled Day
Shirley
The greatest gift IS Jesus! and, I’m forever grateful for that!
The greatest gift is Jesus!!
The greatest gift is Jesus!
“The greatest gift is Jesus!”
The gift of Jesus is the greatest because He was a gift totally undeserved- but given freely.
the greatest gift is Jesus!
“The greatest gift is Jesus”
One thing I love about the greatest gift ever is Emmanuel, God with us!
“The greatest gift is Jesus”
His grace, humbleness and forgivness
Jesus is the greatest gift
The greatest gift is Baby Jesus! He is my everything!
His humility.
A few years ago, my kids did paintings as Christmas gifts for their grandparents. We chose Luke 2:10 as our inspiration. They decided to paint the manger scene. It was a priceless rendition of the true joy of Christmas. With all the craziness of the season (and I’m guilty of it), I was so blessed to realize that they understood the real meaning of Christmas. Now, when I read the Christmas story in the Bible, it blesses me even more!
The greatest gift…
one size fits all
is pre-paid
brings joy
cannot be stolen or lost
needs not be returned
doesn’t require wrapping
is suitable for all ages
lasts a lifetime
is given with love!
Check, Check, Check…Jesus is the greatest gift!!! No doubt about it!
with Jesus came HOPE and LOVE :) what greater gifts could we possibly receive?
Restoration
Jesus is real, He is the greatest gift. When you get to k ow him that is when you experience Jesus!
An amazing love unlike any other.
The greatest gift is Jesus our Savior and friend.
His mercies are new every morning. His Everlasting Love, His Grace, His Forgiveness!
I love the hope that the birth of Jesus Christ represents! And I love that Jesus’ birth was God’s promise fulfilled, is grace and mercy for us now, and means eternal life for us later!
The greatest gift of Christmas, baby Jesus, is only ours if we receive it! Salvation IS THE BEST gift in the whole world! Thank you Jesus!!!!
The Greatest Gift is Jesus and the salvation and joy he brings. He is always with me…I love that! Blessings. :)