| Each year, Christian parents struggle to balance | | | | treats as well (tootsie rolls or kiss, or homemade |
| between the consumerism of Christmas, and | | | | cookie).o We have a Happy Birthday Jesus Partyo |
| keeping Christ the central theme of Christmas. | | | | Sponsor an Angel Tree Childo Limit gifts - one |
| Here are some ideas of ways you can keep | | | | way to do this is as follows: Decide to have three |
| Christ the main focus this year.o Go Christmas | | | | gifts per child (since that is what Jesus received). |
| caroling.o Lots of churches have Christmas | | | | Or, we do this one: We buy our children three |
| programs that are completely free.o Make a | | | | gifts each, plus one gift to share. We use the |
| Jesse Tree. You can print pictures for a Jesse | | | | following poem as a guideline: "Something to read, |
| tree off from the internet, have the kids | | | | something to wear, something to play and |
| decorate them, and each day, pull out a Jesse | | | | something to share"o Sponsor another charity |
| tree decoration and put it on your tree. I use the | | | | such as Operation Christmas Child |
| front of my fridge and simply tape each on there, | | | | Stop and think through all the things you do at |
| in the shape of a Christmas tree.o Make a | | | | Christmas and see what is truly just a distraction |
| homemade advent calendar. For each day, have a | | | | from Christ, and try to eliminate those things as |
| scripture verse, or a Christmas song that your | | | | much as possible. I hope your family has a very |
| family will enjoy together. You can include small | | | | Merry Christmas! |