Opinion/Resources/Teen Perspective

By Teen Opinion Contributor  Maggie Verdught

Photo: Deposit

We can all remember the feelings of anticipation and joy before Christmas each year as a child. Christmas cards, decorations, the tree, lights, making snowflakes, and playing in real snow: these all played a role in the “Christmas magic” that we smile wistfully about.

Perhaps you’re now helping to create that atmosphere of anticipation and joy in your own home. Furthermore, this season brings many opportunities to share the underlying joy of the Gospel! We remind ourselves and our families, and we tell new friends and neighbors of the great truth that has brought us true joy.

In this article, my hope is to spark some inspiration with practical ideas that will elevate your Christmas season and make it more intentional. Even now, as we are very close to Christmas, consider implementing some of these ideas for your own family!

Create traditions

Traditions are special and meaningful. Christmas traditions happen annually, of course, and they are special because they don’t happen often! We wait in anticipation for them, whether that’s decorating the house or opening presents. These annual practices create lasting memories, and children look forward to traditions because they often involve lovely things: yummy food, good gifts, playing, music, and most importantly, time spent with family! 

Now, Christmas traditions are not “necessary” to the meaning of Christmas. The truth about Jesus’ coming and birth does not change based on whether or not your family sings a carol before opening presents. However, traditions are very meaningful. As a Jew, Jesus participated in many Jewish traditions, festivals, and feasts. God wants us to celebrate in this way, ultimately reminding us of Himself in these yearly events.

With that, here are some traditions that I highly recommend your family do next year (or you can start them this year, depending on what it is!)

• Have an Advent calendar with devotionals

Make time as a family to read a short Advent devotional together, and mark the day that has passed on the calendar. This is a tangible reminder of the waiting season we are in during Christmas, and how we are yet waiting for our King Jesus to return. Titus 2:11-13 says, “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ…” Advent calendars emphasize the coming of Christmas and how we look forward to that special time!

• Decorate together as a family

Make more time as a family to decorate together! This “sets the scene” for the Christmas season and is such a fun activity to do as a family. Listen to Christmas music, laugh, talk, and spend time with one another. Strong, healthy family relationships reflect God’s relationship with each of us. God is our loving Father who seeks out a relationship with us; He wants to spend time with us!

• Volunteer with family/friends

The Christmas season is filled with beauty and hope. Yet that hope is muddied by sin, as we live in a broken world. Many families cannot afford presents, traveling, or a Christmas dinner. Apart from the financial burdens that many families bear, there are emotional, mental, and spiritual battles that rage on during this time of year. People need hope! I highly recommend volunteering with your family or friends to serve and bless others, as Christ has blessed us. You will find that using your gifts to bless others is a great gift in itself.

• Invite people in

Christmas is a difficult time for some people, especially if they have nowhere to go for Christmas. Loneliness is a terrible feeling. Some people would love to have a “home” for Christmas. If you know anyone who will likely be home alone for Christmas, invite them over! You don’t necessarily have to spend Christmas with them (it really depends on the person and what your family is comfortable with), but invite them over. Use that opportunity to share the Gospel with them, and encourage them. This is what God calls us to do: “Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up” (Romans 15:2, ESV).

Jesus is the center of it all

In all these things, as we celebrate together, may our hearts remember the true reason we celebrate Christmas! The Babylon Bee posted this headline a few days ago: “Jesus Kinda Bummed He Was Born On December 25 And Now His Birthday Will Be Overshadowed By Christmas Every Year.” This joke made me laugh, but it’s also sad! 

Are we prioritizing the material things that come with the celebratory season? Or are we prioritizing the heavenly, spiritual things that come with the celebratory season? What kinds of gifts are we seeking after? The Bible says, “So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him” (Matthew 6:26, NLT). We must seek the good gifts of our heavenly Father. He is our king and is deserving of worshipful hearts.

May God bless you and your family as you celebrate the beautiful Christmas season together. Have a festive week!  

“Rejoice! Rejoice! Immanuel shall come to you, O Israel.” 

— The Christmas hymn, “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel”

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Maggie VerDught is a high school student who enjoys learning about culture, news, and politics.

She is passionate about sharing the truth, especially with her generation. Maggie loves to run, read, and write poetry in her spare time.

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