Randomly, I give myself permission to get a bit religious on this blog (see also: Why Are Your Favorite Bloggers Mormon.) Today, being another one of those days…
A couple weeks ago, I was teaching the children at church about the gifts we have been given by Christ. The lesson turned out so cute and I was thinking it would be super-duper great for family night (and a Christmas tradition) on Christmas Eve or Christmas. Because, let’s face it…He is what Christmas is about, whether you like it or not…and, I do. like. it. a. lot.
Okay, so here’s what I did for our Christmas Family Night…
I put a mini-Christmas tree in the middle of the room with 4 wrapped presents underneath. Each present represented a gift we have been given by Heavenly Father and Jesus. The gifts and their corresponding quote (inserted with the gift) are as follows:
Gift #1 – The Savior’s Birth
Object – Picture of Nativity or baby Jesus from a Nativity set
“Heavenly Father gave us his Son.”
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Gift #2 – The Sermon on the Mount
Object – School book or object teacher would use
“Jesus taught us how to live righteously.”
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Gift #3 – Jesus suffering in the Garden of Gethsemane for our sins
Object – A prayer rock or picture of the atonement
“Jesus made it possible for us to be saved from sin.”
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Gift #4 – The Resurrection
Object – A glove (to compare to our body and our hand to our spirit)
“Jesus made it possible for us to be resurrected.”
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I asked the kiddos about some of their most favorite gifts that they have received. I heard things like the Nintendo Wii, a cardboard cut-out of Jacob on Twilight (ow-ow!), a bike, etc. Then I talked to them about how they have received several gifts FAR MORE IMPORTANT than any of those things, all of them given to us by our Father in Heaven and our Savior.
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One at a time, I chose a kid to come up and open one of the presents under the tree. We discussed each one.
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After all the presents had been opened and discussed, I asked the kids how we could give a gift to Jesus…what would He want?? Would He want legos? No. Would he want a Nintendo DS? No. He would want us to be more like Him. So, all the kids thought about one thing they could do during the new year to live a better life and follow Christ’s example. They wrote it on a paper and had to wrap it up. I asked them to put it under their tree at home as their gift to Christ. After Christmas, they were to move their gift somewhere that they could always see it so that they could remember the promise they made and the gift they promised to give. The end.
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So, there you have it. I think it would be a fun Christmas tradition to do that every year.
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Cathie says
What a nice way to instill the real message of the season into those little hearts.
I hope you and your family have the merriest of Christmases.
Andrea says
That is such a great way to remember the true reason of the season! Thanks for sharing it! 🙂
Debi Clark says
Oh I love it! Thank you for sharing that. I really like keeping the gift they wrap out and near them so they can remember throughout the year. I also like the idea of doing it on Christmas day when things calm down and their ears may be more open 🙂
Wendy says
That’s awesome. We had a similar lesson too.
Marie says
Merry Christmas to you guys…I did that lesson in sharing time…
simplyfunlady says
I love it! This is perfect! I can’t wait to do this with my family!
Cheryl G. says
Love it!