Day 4 of 12 Days of Christmas Giveaways (with Jeannie Cunnion)
Winners announced here! Congratulations!
It’s Day 4 of 12 Days of Christmas Giveaways!
If you’re just joining in, catch up with us by starting with Day One here.
My guest today is my friend, author, speaker, and just about the sweetest woman in the world,  Jeannie Cunnion. She has kids whose ages range from the potty training stage to soon the drivers training age! Check out her creative idea to do with children below!
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It was early in my parenting, probably right around the time our three boys were about 6, 4, and 2, that I watched them tear through packages and barely finish opening one gift before they were tearing through the next, and I realized I wasnât giving my kids what they really wanted for Christmas. While I loved seeing their faces light up as they raced down the stairs to find endless packages, filled with most of the things theyâd asked for, I also found myself quickly frustrated by New Years day when they could barely recall most of the gifts theyâd just been given. Yes, all of that stuff they absolutely had to have to be happy now sat abandoned at the bottom of the toy box, to be remembered no more.
They were learning early that there is nothing in this world that can satisfy us like the love of Jesus. Of course they wouldnât have said it that way, but all of that âstuffâ doesnât bring us joy- or real, lasting joy, at least. It only brings some temporary thrill. It was then I that knew I wanted to give my kids more. So much more. But not a material kind of more.
I wanted to give my kids a Christmas that is centered around the miracle, not the material. I wanted them to remember the anticipation, the thrill, the joy of celebrating the Christmas miracle.
Love was born. Christ has come. The greatest gift has been given. We can tear up the naughty and nice lists. Jesus has done for you and me what you could never do for ourselves. We now have Godâs unfailing and forever love. So come. Come let us adore Him!
So one thing we began doing with our kids is a birthday party for Jesus on Christmas Eve. Instead of putting out the list of the things we want Santa to give us because we have been âgood enoughâ we bake a cake and sing happy birthday to Jesus. We blow out the candles and thank Him for leaving Heaven to come to earth to rescue us and redeem us.
Well, several years ago, after the candles were blown out and my boys were licking the frosting off their cake, my son Brennan turned to me with a curious face and asked, âBut Mom, if itâs Jesusâs birthday, where are His presents? What did we give to Him?â What a privilege it was to tell my son, âWhat Jesus wants is our love, our trust, our hearts. He wants us. That is the best gift we could give Jesus.â
Even as our boys have grown, and we’ve added one more little guy to the crew, our kids, who now range in age from 14 to 2, enjoy this sweet tradition as a way to keep our focus on what we truly celebrate when we wake up on Christmas morning.
Have you–or someone you know–ever held a birthday party for Jesus on Christmas? What other things could you do to hold such an event? Let us know in the comments.
Christmas Blessings,
Jeannie
Day 4 Giveaway
Jeannie is giving away a copy of her book, Mom Set Free: Find Relief from the Pressure to Get It All Right, along and her Bible study book, Mom Set Free: Good News for Moms Who are Tired of Trying to be Good Enough.
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Just waking up Christmas morning and reading the Christmas story together as a family helps to keep the focus on what really matters and what we are really celebrating. THEN opening gifts after that.
My son’s preschool always held a birthday party for Jesus and now a local mission that our church supports does this for local children.
I always had a cake to celebrate Jesus birthday and had my children sing Happy Birthday to Jesus to help them remember the true meaning of Christmas. I think the birthday party for Jesus is a great idea for my grandchildren to help them remember.
What a beautiful celebration! My MIL has always had a birthday cake for Jesus on Christmas. We have told our kids that the gifts under the tree are a way to celebrate, a fun tradition, but not the focus. Maybe they won’t hear that for several years, but it is being planted in their hearts. I hope!
I love the idea of having a birthday party for Jesus!
Our family celebrates Jesus birthday every year. And the kids make him cards and art work as presents and we give them a present from Jesus
We do it every year. And our present to Jesus is our acts of service to our community. We take goodies to local fire stations and cards to our assisted living centers.
We have not, but that is a great idea! By the way, I am also a boy mama. 5 boys here ranging in age from 2 – 16!
I know my parents did this with me when I was very small, but I donât really remember it, and it didnât become a lasting tradition. I do think it might be something special to start with my four girls!
This book sounds like something I would love to read.
Would love this book ?!
Seems logical to have a birthday party party for Jesus, but I donât know anyone who has thrown a party. My nephew did make Jesus a birthday card one year!
We have thought about this before. It feels silly but on the other hand it seems silly not to!
What a perfect way to celebrate! I like that idea!
Yes, I’ve participated and known others who have done or who do this. Good way to keep focus on Jesus being the reason!
Awesome idea! We are a young family (married 5 years and have 3 children 4 and under) so we are still landing on what we will be doing from year to year. Loving hearing others’ ideas.
We’ve never held a birthday party for Jesus- but we do read the story of His birth before we touch the presents Christmas morning. This year I would like to add having everyone tell a blessing they are thankful for this year before we move on.
Looking forward to having our middle child read the story this year as he is now old enough and literate enough to read it himself- and how it makes my mama heart swell to hear him read the Truth.
Wow I have never heard of this what an amazing idea. Will set try this out with my little boy!
Set free!! Go moms everywhere.
We have not done that, but what a great idea!
What a great way to celebrate the message of this day!
Both of these books look great!
What a wonderful way to celebrate! We have done something similar with our church children after the annual Christmas play. We throw a birthday party for Jesus for all the church to enjoy. Members bring their favorite cookies to share and we sing happy birthday. It’s my favorite tradition.
I’ve never done a birthday party for Jesus but I bet my two boys would love it!
Our church usually throws a small birthday party for Jesus during the month of December for the kids. This was my first time getting to throw one for the preschool group and we had so much fun! We read a book about his birth and l shared a kids song about God being love and sang some Christmas songs as well. We had mini cupcakes and party blowers and sang Happy birthday to Jesus.