I asked my eldest, “So, how do you think our different CHRISTmas is going?”
Her reply made me a little nervous, “It’s good, but we will see Christmas day.”
She’s eighteen now, and change does not come as easy, but her heart is pliable.
You see, we endeavored to make CHRISTmas different because we were developing a sense of entitlement last year that scared me a bit. When we decided to make the focus about Christ and giving to those in need, instead of a huge lot of gifts for us to consume under the tree, we were wanting for a heart change. And a heart change, from “What can I get?” to “What can I give?” doesn’t happen because we will it to, force it to, or coerce it to. It’s a work of the Spirit of God to change hearts.
I knew for certain, I did not want it to seem like a punishment to the children. I wondered, what could we do to have CHRISTmas day different, but still filled with love and joy and memory making?
I prayed about. I know the heart of the Father, and His desire to give good gifts, and His desire to bless. (Matthew 7:11) As parents, it’s our desire, too. Through Advent we led the children in giving — giving so modern day orphans can have Christmas, giving so someone in a distant land can have chickens and rabbits for breeding and eating and selling, a bike for transportation, school supplies for learning, Bibles for Truth, a deep well for clean water, and we are still giving to baby rescue. And sometimes it felt like I was pressing hard against the grain.
But when Christmas day came, I wanted to bring it home, back to the center with Christ at the center of our FAMILY. I wanted the kids to know that family is still our priority, before any other ministry or work. I just wasn’t sure how.
So when my babysitter mentioned her mom makes a scavenger hunt for the kids to find one of their presents, I knew that’s what I wanted to do for the kids Christmas morning.
We didn’t have much time to plan, but Husband and I took and impromptu dinner date. During it, we came up with 10 clues that would take them back and forth from the house, all over our property, and finally to the gifts.
It was a surprise when they went to see their stockings hanging, and found only a note that told them they’d go on a quest like the three Wise Men. Before we sent them off, we read the story of the Magi following the star to baby Jesus.
The kids carried with them to each clue a small goodie bag they could fill with candy we left for them along the way. Although, the littlest of them was more interested in filling her belly with it.
Clue #1: “…and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.” (Luke 2:7) And that sent them to the barn.
Eight clues later…
…a wee little man,
And a wee little man was he.
He climbed up in a sycamore tree
For the Lord he wanted to see…
Led them to the treehouse.
And the very last,
“…the Son of Man has no place to lay his head, but aren’t you glad you do,”
led them to each of their beds where they found their stockings.
The morning could not have went better. We got a true thumbs up from eldest beauty. We got more thank you’s and saw more gratitude than ever before. And a heart change? We are seeing that, too.
“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.” (2 Corinthians 3:17-18) ESV
Perhaps next year, we will send them with their stockings to gather all the stuffers, because we will definitely be doing this again.