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Celebrating Advent During a Busy Christmas Season

by Rachel Jones

Advent is a season of preparation and waiting for the celebration of Jesus’ birth at Christmas. The term Advent is from the Latin translation of “coming.” God’s prophecies in the Old Testament prepared the way for His promise. He told us He was coming, and then He fulfilled that promise!

Honoring Advent teaches our children the real reason for Christmas, creates memories with our children they will cherish forever, and allows our families to spend quality time together, focusing on what is good, pure, and holy. We will experience a more peaceful holiday season when we keep Jesus at the center.

Luke 2:13-14 tells us that, “Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to those on whom His favor rests.”

This verse is so commanding and powerful! Mamas, let us all commit to teaching our children in a tangible way just how much that verse changes their lives forever!

Below are some of my favorite ideas for helping my kids stay focused on Jesus during the Christmas season. All of the links to these ideas may be at the bottom of this page. 

- Celebrating with a Jesse Tree: 

Jesse trees are a very old Christmas tradition that first started in Medieval Times. They are used to help tell the story of the Bible from creation to the Christmas Story. The name comes from Jesse, who was the Father of the great Jewish King David. Isaiah 11:1-4 tells the prophecy of Jesse.

- Using an Advent Calendar to Count Down the Days to Christmas:
Children enjoy using something tangible to count down to Christmas. 

- Incorporating a Christian alternative to “Elf on the Shelf”
I like to call it “Mary and Joseph traveling to Bethlehem.” Each day, the journey to Jesus’ birth draws nearer. Your children will love waking up every morning to find Mary and Joseph figurines from your nativity set in a different spot. 

-Reading Christmas Books:
December is the perfect time to gather the family to enjoy a well-loved Christmas book. My girls get so excited to snuggle under a fleece throw blanket on the couch or sit together in the kitchen sipping hot chocolate for storytime. (Hot cocoa spilled on the couch ruins the mood, so better safe than sorry!)

This list has some of our favorites:
– Alabaster’s Song: Christmas through the Eyes of an Angel by Max Lucado
– What Is Christmas? by Michelle Medlock Adams
– Stable Where Jesus Was Born by Rhonda Gowler Greene
– There Was No Snow on Christmas Eve by Pamela Munoz Ryan
– The Legend of the Candy Cane by Lori Walburg
– The Small One by Alex Walsh
– The Perfect Christmas Gift (Gigi, God’s Little Princess) by Sheila Walsh
– The Candle in the Window by Grace Johnson

“The only people whose soul can truly magnify the Lord are...people who acknowledge their lowly estate and are overwhelmed by the coming of the magnificent God.” ~ John Piper

*Be sure to check out Day 7 of this plan for a link to print the "Christmas Advent House" printable and other resources for this plan!