Day 6 of 12 Days of Christmas Giveaways (with Ruth Chou Simons)
*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.
Giveaway rules are listed below. Enjoy!
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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
- U.S. Addresses only please.
- 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.
- One daily winner will be chosen from each day’s comments.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
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I would like to try to send Christmas cards to people I don’t necessarily know well, but want to reach out to. Everyone likes to get “real” mail!
I sent out surprise gifts for a few people this year to make them smile. :)
Pray for/with a random person.
Donate to a Women’s shelter. Bring goodies to police/fire fighters. Donate to an animal shelter.
I would like to try surprising people at a nursing home with gifts.
Leaving an anonymous gift for someone to brighten their holiday.
I went out to eat with some friends and I noticed this older man sitting by himself. I told my friends that I was going to buy his dinner and they all kind of looked at me weird and asked why? I told him, you never know a person’s story and I little act of kindness could brighten their whole day. The gentleman came over to me when he was leaving and told me I would never know how much that truly meant to him. He had just lost his wife this year and they would go to that restaurant once every month. I looked at my friends and everyone had tears in their eyes!
One act of kindness that I would like to try this year is dropping off toys and treats for pets at the animal shelter.
Volunteer at new hope for kids its a grieving center for kid’s who lost loved ones.
Leaving certain things such as a bag of popcorn next to a movie rental machine as a simple act of kindness!
Leaving a basket of goodies on our doorstep as a thank you for all the delivery people working hard this time of year!
Helping donate to kids who need it at children’s hospital.
I love to give gifts!! I always give gifts to my neighbors to show them how much I love and appreciate their kindness to my family throughout the year. This year I am making them all homemade cinnamon rolls.
Baking Christmas goodies or a meal to take to a local fire station or Veterans hall.
I would like to try the “secret” giving basket…where you drop off a basket of goodies to friends of neighbors but leave the name of who left it…just Merry Christmas!
We always donate 2 bicycles to a church or charity.
Giving to needy families
Writing encouraging letters to children through Compassion International.
Christmas has been a time of welcoming others in our home that otherwise would not have people to celebrate with. It doesn’t get old.
An act of kindness I’d like to do this year: showing love to someone who may not have a place to celebrate the holiday. I want to welcome people into my home.
To show kindness to all the busy workers in the stores.
Make cookies with the neighborhood kids whose parents work 24/7
We just moved to a new city and one of our pastors run a Feed the Homeless organization. I want to get involved. Not just at Christmas but Christmas Eve sounds like the perfect day to start!
Being sweeter with my words. Encouraging others is so over looked as a blessing to others.