Happy Birthday, Jesus – The Williams Family Compass



Nativity scene

Merry Christmas, everyone. Happy birthday, Jesus.

Christmas is a very important time in our house. Of course, there are presents. There are also cookies and more egg nog than should really be allowed. We sing carols and cook all day, and if we’re lucky we catch a Christmas parade on TV. There’s also the guilty pleasure of watching some of our favorite Christmas movies like Elf and It’s a Wonderful Life. And while that is all well and good, almost none of it has to do with the reason for the season, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

In addition to all the secular traditions and celebrations, we do everything we can to keep our hearts and our children’s hearts focused on God. We dedicate ourselves to extra deeds of service during Advent, and we read the story or Christ’s birth alongside ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas. One of our most meaningful traditions as a family is “adopting” several children in need for Christmas. We give our children $10 each and make it into a competition to see who can buy the most for our angel with their funds. It’s a great way to help children remember that Christmas isn’t about what gifts they want or even visiting Santa. It’s about keep Christ at the center of Christmas and doing our best every day to live out His example.

We don’t have to give up our secular ways in order to Jesus in our hearts and minds throughout the holiday season. Today, we’ll bake and open presents, and then we’ll go to church and worship praisefully in His name, singing our hearts out to Silent Night.

Have a blessed and very Merry Christmas.