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’d like to take extra cash with me when we go out to eat, and then tip extra to be a blessing to others.
Our church has a Giving Tree every Christmas with the names of children and adults in our community who are in need. Each year our family picks one or two names from the tree and we go shopping as a family to purchase the wanted items off the list. We also like to add a personal gift from our family. My children have always enjoyed being part of this experience. They even enjoy wrapping the gifts. We each write a Christmas blessing to the recipient. We’ve been doing this for years and we always look forward to participating in the Giving Tree.
Volunteer at the local kitten shelter. I’’m a crazy cat lady and just bringing them food, treats and extra loving brings my heart so much happiness.
I am putting together 10 one-gallon ziplock bags with items for the homeless to hand out , filled with a $10 gift card at a nearby fast food restaurant, travel size baby wipes, travel tooth brush and tooth paste, lotion, snacks , cough drops and a bottle of water.
Be extra patient and helpful.
I like to give money at kettles, tips at the coffee drive-thru, etc… a little extra for others during this time of year
https://twitter.com/momof3boysj/status/1206068696025894913
:-)
Take some homemade cookies & clothing to a battered woman’s shelter .
I am going to write Christmas cards to my neighbors.
Our church feeds the homeless every Tuesday and they have been doing an angel tree for them as well with an item or two that they would like, anything from clothes, to blankets, tools, etc. I got two angels and had my kids help pick them out and wrap to give to them to show them we’re blessed and how to bless others!
Got stickers on super sale after Halloween to give to kids waiting with their parents at the dmv
I was just reading a post today that someone put quarters into the carts at Aldi. I would love to put several in the carts.
sounds great!
what great ideas!!
Make a gift basket & bring it to a shut in . We love the snowman outside the nursing home idea too – if we get snow, we’d love to do that too!
Take my daughters to play a string duet of Christmas carols at a local nursing home.
I either give a cashier at a gas station some money and pay for coffee or drinks for others, or pay for the person behind me in a fast food drive through.
It would like to help one very deserving family have a wonderful Christmas! I always stock up during the year and love to find kids to give toys to at Christmas! There’s nothing better than seeing a child excited!??
I either give a cashier at a gas station some money and pay for coffee or drinks for others, or pay for the person behind me in a fast food drive through. As a handicapped person who walks with a walker, I am not able to do any of the physical ideas.
My family has been getting to know an elderly man on my sons paper route. Is really like for us to get to know him more. He lost his wife several years ago and doesn’t really leave his him so we have begun bringing him treats, shoveling for him, and my husband was able to pray with him one at Thanksgiving. I’d like us to continue this and build a relationship with him! This time of year especially seems hard for him.
Personally I have always wanted to grab a group of friends and volunteer to donate food and prepare dinner for The Ronald Macdonald House.
Bell ringing. Seeing shut-in. My absolute favorite is simply sending Christmas cards full of Christmas wishes.
Blessing bags for the homeless is on our list.
Volunteering at a shelter
Pick a name from the giving tree for the local children. Let them feel the spirit of giving.