I love Christmas and the joy and excitement in my grandchildren’s eyes. I love when we sit around the tree and Dan reads the Christmas story. As he reads I always pray my grandchildren will grow more in love with Jesus every year.
This past week as I was ordering a video game for one of my grandchildren from Amazon, a children’s Christmas survey popped up and showed the top favorite songs this year for children are Jingle Bells and Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. I went to a children’s school Christmas program and every song was about the season but not about the birth of Christ. I am not against the fun songs like Jingle Bells but, I began to think about the world our children are growing up in and the void of hope there is without Jesus. Here we are preparing to celebrate our Savior’s birth and often our world is leaving Christ out of Christmas.
I reflected on my childhood and my sons’ school years where the meaning of Christmas was in the schools, stores, displayed on people and church lawns. Children’s programs included children singing about Jesus and often dressed up in costumes and they learned their lines to tell the story of Christmas. My favorite Christmas song was, “Away in a Manager”. I guess I am showing my age. I believe I must, we must, be intentional in teaching our children about Jesus and His great gift of love. Christmas is about the person who will help them when there are bullies and shootings in schools. He does not need for them to be perfect to be loved. He loves them just because He created them and wants them to be friends with Him.
In Mark 10:13-16 it says, “People were bringing little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.’ And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them, and blessed them”.
I am challenged by this passage to ensure that every child I know will know Jesus loves them and He came at Christmas to love them every day. I want to do this by praying for children, this Christmas and throughout the year. Giving small gifts that reflect His love—maybe a text to tell them Jesus loves them and I am praying for them, maybe a kind word or a card with a little gift to say Jesus loves them and He is why we celebrate Christmas. I do not want the focus on busy planning that leaves out loving children to Jesus.
Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them…”
Will you join me in loving our children and youth to Jesus, so they know He wants to bless them?
Have a blessed Christmas.