Jesus Tree

This year, I wanted to do more than read the Christmas story over and over in the days leading up to Christmas.  So after looking around a bit, I decided to turn our Thanksgiving stick tree into a Jesus tree that would help us celebrate and remember who Jesus was (and is).  Just like celebrating birthdays are more than remembering the birth story, so celebrating Jesus’ birthday became more about his life than about his birth.  Some days were decidedly un-Christmas-y.  Other days were really fun (like when we played flashlight hide-and-seek). 

I love that this led all of us to worship Christ, no matter what age we are. 

The basic framework led us through Jesus as the Son of God, Son of man, a humble servant, and savior of the world.  Each day the kids would open up the ornament for the day and we’d read a story to help us understand more about Jesus.  Some days we did other activities if we had time, forethought, and energy. 

Week 1: Jesus is the Son of God

• Because God said so. Jesus is baptized. (Matthew 3:17)
• Because he is strong like God. Jesus calms the storm. (Matthew 8:23)
• Because he was with God during creation.  The creation story. (John 1, Genesis 1, Colossians 1:16)
• Because people said so. Jesus and Peter walk on the water. (Matthew 14)
• Because he is worthy of worship and only God is worthy of worship.  (Revelation 5:12-13, Exodus 20:3-4) This was a great day to sing “O Come All Ye Faithful” and other worship songs. 
• Because Jesus can forgive sin.  Jesus forgives and heals a paralytic. (Matthew 9:1-8)
• Because Jesus said so. Jesus stays in the temple when he’s 12 years old. (Luke 2:41-52) You can see Caleb’s version of the story here. 

Week 2: Jesus is the Son of Man.

• Mary’s son.  An angel visits Mary. (Luke 1:26-38)
• Adopted by Joseph.  Learned carpentry from Joseph.
• Became tired, hungry, and thirsty. Jesus is tempted in the desert. (Luke 4)
• Sympathizes with our weaknesses. (Hebrews 4:15-16)

Week 3: Jesus is a humble servant.

• Came as a dependent baby.  Joseph, Mary, and Jesus running to Egypt to escape King Herod. (Matthew 2:13-23)
• Born in a barn.
• Announced to shepherds.
• Washed the disciples’ feet. (john 13)
• Died on the cross. (Philippians 2:6-8)

Week 4: Jesus is the Savior of the world.

• Rescuer. I told my salvation story.
• Lamb. The story of the first Passover.  I used a chapter from One Wintry Night by Ruth Bell Graham. 
• Savior. Another telling of the gospel. by the way, this is supposed to be a parachute, but it hangs upside down on the tree.  The parachute has been tested, and it does work.
• Door/Gate. (John 10:9, John 14:6) We reviewed the heaven craft we did in preschool.
• Redeemer. Caleb got to redeem some pop cans at the grocery store.  He chose to keep the coins instead of buying something with them.
• Shepherd. Psalm 23.
• Light. We played flashlight hide-and-seek.  Caleb begged and begged to play it again the next night, so we did.
• King. (Philippians 2:9-11, Revelation 5:12-13 again)
• Emmanuel. God with us.  We were traveling on this day and I didn’t implement any of my ideas. One idea was to hang a prism and talk about how we can’t see God, but we can see what he does.  I could also use a picture of a neighborhood.  We’ll see what we end up doing next year!

My goal in doing this isn’t to create a regimented tradition, but to do something that will lead us into a deeper relationship with Christ. 

Christmas Stories

Our Thanksgiving Tree has morphed into a Jesus Tree.  Here’s Caleb helping to tell one of the stories:

Take 2.  The one in which Sophia decided to participate. 

Apology

The hazards of teaching a kinesthetic learner to apologize:

Mama: You need to apologize.

Son (after a long pause): Sorry.

Mama (prompting): Sorry for…

Son: Doing this. (as he pushes his sister… again.)

More “What for?” Questions

This morning as Luke was reading the Christmas story to Caleb, Caleb searched the pictures intently and asked, “Where’s Jesus’ Christmas tree?”

And then as they were talking about our Christmas tree: “There aren’t any brown Christmas lights.  What for?” 

Nothing like a fresh perspective to identify ritual.  Not that I’m saying I want brown lights on my Christmas tree.  

I’d rather have my kids help decorate:

Thanksgiving Favorite

I almost forgot one of my favorite parts of Thanksgiving this year:

Caleb started learning his first Bible verse, and he was so excited about it.  Ok, I think he also has “Be kind” from Ephesians down too, but this is the first verse he’s willingly tried to learn.  It was fun to see him learn it and teach it!

Thanksgiving Recap

My parents came to our place on Thursday:

We traveled to Luke’s parents’ on Saturday:

We looked forward to it for a week by making a calendar and paper chain: (Why am I not more embarrassed to post my awful art skills online?)

We decorated our “thankful tree” on Thanksgiving Day. 

We also made turkey napkin holders to help satiate Caleb’s requests to make something. 

Like last year, we filled our gift bag with things we were thankful for throughout the month of November. I’ve grown to appreciate the symbolism and simplicity of collecting our thanks in a gift bag. We’re counting all the little and big gifts God gives us each day.  I’m learning that a thankful heart puts so much of life in the proper perspective.  I’m also learning a thankful heart isn’t an emotion, but a practice.  This is the day the Lord has made.  I will choose to be glad and rejoice in it. 

What For?

Sometimes it sounds like “what fo-or?”  It usually means, “Why?”  We’ve entered that stage. 

Mommy: We’re going to put on hats so our ears don’t get cold.

Son: What for?

Today it was something a little more difficult to answer.

Mommy: Let’s go look for Grandpa’s Christmas present.

Son: What for?  Christmas is Jesus’ birthday.