This Year Christmas Is On A Sunday


This year Christmas is on a Sunday. What a great opportunity this is for us to create a holy season for our children, friends, and family. We all suspect Christ may, or may not, have been born on December 25th. In fact, this date was actually a pagan holiday, originally. Not much has changed over the years.

Sunday is the true Holy-Day, a day we can rightfully celebrate our Savior’s birth, life, sacrifice, and resurrection. Being able to combine it with the much anticipated season of Christmas makes it a more exciting holiday.

I have nothing against Santa. He conveys gift giving and many happy thoughts. But you have to agree, he has gone way overboard. It makes me wary, to keep my guard up, preventing him from completely taking over the way my family celebrates. In fact, I proudly declare he has had little influence in our home. That doesn’t mean we don’t decorate, give gifts, or even glut ourselves on the many Christmas movies available. But it does mean that my family holds on to our allegiance, placing our faith—where it rightly belongs—in Christ, the Savior of the World.

Have you ever noticed that Santa is an Anagram for Satan? Just a little outrageous thought.  

There is so much effort in preparations for Christmas, oftentimes Christmas Day becomes a letdown. We’ve been so busy “getting ready” for the holiday that when it gets here all of our efforts are over in a flash. And then we wonder where the season went.

I’ve decided one way I can combat this is to create an advent calendar that can be enjoyed by my grandchildren. Everything on the calendar is spiritual in nature. Each day will keep the family focused on the rightful feelings that Christmas brings.

Here’s this year’s list:

  • Read Luke Chp. 2, The Christmas Story, together and discuss why we celebrate this most glorious birth
  •  Do a Secret Santa Service for one another tonight
  •  Sing three Christmas songs together
  •  Go around to each member of the family and say what you like best about him/her
  •  List as many different names of Jesus Christ as you can
  •  What are the signs of Jesus Christ’s birth in both the old world and in the new
  •  Review some of the stories and quotes from the Christmas Devotional given by our prophets this Christmas season
  •  Read some favorite Christmas stories and discuss why they pull at our heartstrings
  •  Bear testimony to one another
  •  Discuss all of the temples across the world. What is your favorite? Why are temples important?
  •  Discuss what the Bread and Water represent in the Sacrament
  •  What do you like about Jesus Christ?
  •  What is special about December 23rd?
  •  Do a Secret Santa Service for a neighbor or a friend
  •  Read Isaiah 53 in the Old Testament where Jesus Christ’s coming is foretold
  •  Read Helaman 14:1-17 in the Book of Mormon where Jesus Christ’s coming is foretold
  •  Using the Big Dipper as your guide, look in the sky for the North Star. Why is the North Star important? (On ldswomenofgod.com/blog look for the post—Why the Big Dipper on the Salt Lake Temple?—for the answer)
  •  Have everyone pick a favorite Christmas song and tell why he/she likes it. Then sing them all together
  •  Review the Christmas symbols, pick one, and share how it symbolizes Christ and Christmas
  •  Make a Christmas treat together and share it with a neighbor
  •  Call grandparents and wish them a Merry Christmas
  •  Read about the Tree of Life—the true Christmas tree (1 Ne 8:9-12,1 Ne 11:8-23)

(I don’t always think far enough ahead to prepare my advents in an inviting setting, but the Internet has lots of really fun ways to display your advent calendar. Or you could print them out, stick them in a can, and pull them out randomly.)

When you wake up Christmas morning, make sure your children know how you really feel about Christmas. Going to Church is the best present to GIVE and RECEIVE on Christmas Day. Worshipping Jesus Christ in song makes everyone happy. Feeling the Spirit on this Holy day leaves no room for post-holiday depression.

 

Doctrine & Covenants 128:22-23:

[Sisters], shall we not go on in so great a cause? Go forward and not backward. Courage, [sisters]; and on, on to the victory! Let your hearts rejoice, and be exceedingly glad. Let the earth break forth into singing. Let the dead speak forth anthems of eternal praise to the King Immanuel, who hath ordained, before the world was, that which would enable us to redeem them out of their prison; for the prisoners shall go free.

Let the mountains shout for joy, and all ye valleys cry aloud; and all ye seas and dry lands tell the wonders of your Eternal King! And ye rivers, and brooks, and rills, flow down with gladness. Let the woods and all the trees of the field praise the Lord; and ye solid rocks weep for joy! And let the sun, moon, and the morning stars sing together, and let all the [daughters] of God shout for joy! And let the eternal creations declare his name forever and ever! And again I say, how glorious is the voice we hear from heaven, proclaiming in our ears, glory, and salvation, and honor, and immortality, and eternal life; kingdoms, principalities, and powers!

 

There is so much more in celebrating His birth than a mere Christmas Day, Santa, Reindeer, and getting the perfect gift.

 

This painting, called Every Knee Shall Bow,  is by Gaye Frances Willard