A Real Christmas Story

Start a new tradition in your family!  Include the book   
St. Nicholas – The Real Story of the Christmas Legend, oranges, and a drawstring pouch with chocolate coins.  Read the story with your kids.

I want Ethan to know who Saint Nicholas was; he was a man who loved God and shared the love of God with those around him. After we read a couple of stories about the real Santa Claus, Ethan decided he wanted to be Saint Nicholas too!  This is a new tradition I want to start. I found dollar store stockings and had him fill them with oranges and some chocolate gold coins.

Then, Ethan wrote Merry Christmas on the Christmas cards we had made a couple of weeks ago. It was such a challenge for Ethan to sneak quietly to our neighbors' house. He tried really hard. We just left them at the door.

A few days later, when we pulled into our driveway, we could see the stocking that we dropped off earlier in the week was sitting on our porch filled again! Ethan yelled out, "Saint Nicholas was here!"

So, Ethan brought the stocking inside and we got to watch him open it up. It was so awesome to see him so excited about the fruit.  There was a card inside the stocking that read, "We didn't miss the moment of you teaching Ethan how to share! You are great parents and wonderful neighbors. God bless you, the Launders Family".

I started to cry when I read the card... I was touched. It means a lot to me to see Ethan learning how to show love to others. Then, for it to come right back around to him in the same week. He really understood what it meant to show God's love and kindness. Then, two hours later, our other neighbor knocked on our door and gave us a gift bag filled with baked goodies! Look! This didn't happen last year. See how showing kindness and love becomes contagious? We aren't going to keep the stocking. We are going to fill it again and give it out this week. It shouldn't just stop at us, right? God's love needs to be shared again and again!

Written by Jen Evans

The Christmas Tree: A Symbol of Christ’s Everlasting Love

Last holiday season, Josh and I were out shopping and we saw a Christmas tree hanging upside down. We looked at each other with frowns said, "Why do people mess with Christmas trees? Why turn them upside down? It looks so silly!" Since then, however, I've come to find out that the first fir trees people brought into their homes were actually hung upside down from the ceiling beams!

Bringing trees indoors began centuries ago, when many cultures thought fir trees were the symbols of life and good fortune. One such superstitious group were the Vikings of Scandinavia. Throughout their long, cold, depressing winters they marveled at the evergreens and began to believe they were magical. Thinking the trees would give them magical strength to survive the harsh winter as well, they brought them into their homes as a lucky charm (or idol) and hung them upside down from the crossbeams.

Later, as the Vikings were converted to Christianity, the symbolism changed. The evergreens were hung as a representation of Christianity and the Tree of Life. The triangular shape of the tree signified the Holy Trinity and its endurance through the cold months reminded them to have faith during tough times. Eventually the custom swept throughout France and Germany, but it wasn't until the late 1500's that the fir trees were taken down from the ceiling to stand upright on the floor.

"Trees were not yet generally associated with Christmas, however, but were considered throwbacks to pagan rituals. It would take one of history's most famous Christian leaders to change that perception. …Martin Luther was walking home on a dark December evening when he was struck by the beauty of the starlight coming through the branches of the many fir trees in the woods around his home. The German Protestant Reformer was so captivated by the way the filtered light appeared that he felt moved to duplicate this effect on the tree he had placed in his home. He tied a candleholder onto one of the evergreen's branches, put a candle in the wooden holder, and lit it…He liked the effect and attached several more candles in the same way…Luther taught his friends and family that the tree represented the everlasting love of God. He pointed out that the evergreen's color did not fade, just as the Lord's love would not fade, no matter what circumstance or trial. The candlelight represented the hope that Christ brought to the world through his birth & resurrection. Thus, to those who knew Luther, the tree evolved into a symbol not just of Christmas but of Christian faith in general." - Ace Collins

Like so many traditions, Christmas trees have changed a lot over the years. Yet the true significance of Christmas remains the same, even after all these centuries.

One of my favorite holiday customs is my time alone with the tree. One night, when the house is dark and everyone else is in bed, I turn off all the lights except the tree and curl up with a blanket on the couch. In the solitude, I gaze at the colors that dance off the ornaments and marvel at the wonder of the season. I take that time to read and reflect on the Christmas story. Despite the fact that scholars don't really know what month of the year Christ was born, He was born! Jesus brought love and hope to a dark world! Jesus brought love and hope to me! I take that quiet moment to thank Jesus for all He did to save me from my sin, and all that he is doing right now, in and through me. Without Him, I am nothing! But along with Mary I can joyfully declare,

My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for He has been mindful of the humble state of His handmaiden... The Mighty One has done great things for me! Holy is His name! Luke 1:46-49

I encourage you to take the time this year to savor the significance of Christmas. Plan a sacred moment to celebrate God’s remarkable Gift to you. And I pray this season brings you and your family together to remember His everlasting love and hope!

by Rebecca Grinder