Sometime during Thanksgiving week, gather your family and work through this conversation together. For us, it’ll be with our adult kids, their significant others, all who have their own homes but who will come for some special meals and traditions that we do as a family.
During your time together, talk about what ways you “get” to serve Jesus that are different from other families. What are things your family “gets” to do during the holidays that other families in the church may not get to do. Maybe it’s decorating the church or making food for those serving on Christmas Eve. For us and for a season, it was building an epic stage set to move people into worship and celebration. If you can’t think of any, maybe it’s time to create some. When you can see these as opportunities, they become your family’s Christmas gift to Jesus. Something that only your family can do and offer to Him.
Then talk together about the things you do during the Christmas season that mean the most to you, the things that help you to celebrate Jesus. These don’t have to be the most somber – in fact they probably shouldn’t be. After all, we are announcing the coming of a King. And it was a big deal when Jerusalem announced the coming of King Jesus into the city, by shouting “Hosanna, Hosanna” and laying down palm branches.
As a family, walk through these other questions together. Maybe choose a kid to be your “scribe” and record what you all decide as a family.
We hope this time together will serve to remind you that while there are sacrifices that God has called your family to during this season, there are also rich privileges and opportunities to see God work, up close. If only we have the eyes to see.
Click the link below to download and print the worksheet.
