Christmas

That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David!”

LUKE 2:8-11

OH, THE JOY OF CHRISTMAS! There’s nothing quite like it. All that waiting and waiting has paid off. The gifts are under the tree (or maybe already opened). The feast is better every year. Family gathers. Music plays. There’s plenty of dessert. Christmas is, quite simply, the best.

Today is a day of celebration. It’s a time to rejoice—just as people did long ago. They had waited hundreds of years for the promised Messiah to come and save them. And then, all of a sudden, word spread that the baby King had been born. The celebrations began.

Every family has different Christmas traditions. We all celebrate Jesus’ birth in different ways. What are your favorite things about Christmas (aside from presents)? Why do these traditions mean so much to you? Today is a day for celebrating—so enjoy your family, good food, and the celebration Jesus brought us because of that first Christmas.

DO

At the bottom of this page, draw a Christmas tree. Add the things you value most under it, like your family, Jesus, and friends. Use this as a reminder to value the things that really matter this Christmas.

PRAY

Dear God,

Thank you for Christmas. Thank you for sharing Jesus with us. Please help me never forget the importance of Jesus’ birth amid all our celebrations. Amen.

READ

Matthew 1:20-21; Luke 2:16-20