• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • BLOG
  • TUTORIALS
    • Free Patterns
    • Free Printables
    • SEWING
      • Technique
    • CRAFTS
      • Printables
    • CROCHET
    • Baby
    • KIDS
      • Boys
      • Girls
      • KIDS CREATE
      • Lego
      • Parenting
    • Women
    • Men
    • Holiday Projects
      • Birthday
      • Valentine’s Day
      • Easter
      • Spring
      • Mother’s Day
      • Father’s Day
      • Summer
        • Color Your Summer 1
        • Color Your Summer 2
        • Color Your Summer 3
      • Halloween
      • Autumn
      • Thanksgiving
      • Christmas
      • Winter
    • Accessories
    • Home Projects
    • No Sew
    • Gift Ideas
      • Teacher Appreciation
    • Party Ideas
    • Photography
    • RECIPES
      • Allergy Friendly
      • Baking
      • Sweet
      • Savory
      • Beverage
      • Breakfast
      • Holiday
      • Soups
      • Vegan
  • SHOP
    • SHOP
    • Cart
    • ACCOUNT
  • ABOUT
    • CONTACT
    • Featured
  • SPONSOR
    • PRESS
  • Privacy Policy
  • TERMS OF USE

delia creates

Christmas, crafting, holiday · December 12, 2010

First Gift of Christmas

This is a re-post of my guest post on Cheri’s blog.

So here goes…

She is such a wonderfully talented person. Did you know that this girl can sing? Like really sing? Has cds out? Yeah. I don’t have to tell you how crafty she is either. But…She is also sincere and kind. When she contacted me about focusing on Christ this Christmas I grew to respect her even more.

It is so hard not to get caught up in the excitement of Santa and reindeer, and seeing our kids’ faces on Christmas morning when they see the toys they have been dreaming of all year. I think that is a good thing.

But, I think it is a better thing to balance all of that out with the real reason we celebrate Christmas. To help our kids learn that even getting gifts is actually a symbol of Christ. His birth, life, and most importantly Atonement is the greatest gift that has ever been and will yet be given.

To help us remember this, we started the First Gift of Christmas tradition last year. Our box was not as pretty as this one because we decided to do it the night before, but this year I made a simple white paper-mache box with a red bow to last us through the years.

Inside there are envelopes with the year written in the corner.

And inside those envelopes are slips of paper where we write down our gifts.

Our gifts are things we will do for the Savior. For my children, I tell them it is gift we give baby Jesus. Something you will do that He would do or would want you to do.

We tuck the gifts away in the envelope and read ones from years past. I am really excited to read what we wrote last year. I really really wanted to peek but I was good. Promise. 🙂

Reading past gifts can help us bond as a family as we draw closer to the Savior together.

*This is one of our nativity sets with our porcelain family figurines set around Baby Jesus. This another little tradition we have to help us remember Christ.

Of course this is just how we have chosen to do it but…This is all done at the top of our stairs before we go down to see the tree. No one is allowed downstairs when they wake up. We meet at the top where our First Gift box is placed. We sing a Christmas hymn, say a prayer, give our “gifts” to Jesus and after all that is done, we then go downstairs and still have the giddy Christmas gifting fun around the tree.

My kids were still hyper and super excited last year…and I’ll admit so were we…but the morning was cast with a warmer, more loving, more thankful feeling.

It is a simple thing to pause and remember Christ first, but really makes the holiday mean more and can make a lasting impression on our children.

Thank you Cheri for letting me stop by!

Merry Christmas!

Previous Post: « Nativity Finger Puppets
Next Post: Christmas Pizza »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. AmyBean says

    December 13, 2010 at 4:08 AM

    What a cute idea! I love that. I might have to adapt it somehow for our family. Maybe we'll do it on Christmas Eve. I don't think my 2-year-old would be content to sit and wait for us to write stuff on pieces of paper when there are presents waiting in the next room. 😛

    Reply
  2. vera azvdo says

    February 4, 2011 at 12:00 AM

    Lovely blog and I also love the idea! Vera – Rio de Janeiro – Brazil

    Reply
  3. Offended and hurt says

    November 26, 2012 at 1:42 AM

    I'm am not christian this post is offensive to nearly 2/3 of Canada, watch what you blog, because you just lost a reader.

    Reply
  4. Holly says

    December 2, 2013 at 7:52 PM

    I am a Christian and I love this idea, we will pray for you offended & hurt.

    Reply
  5. Candogoods says

    December 26, 2013 at 8:02 AM

    Offended and Hurt: I wonder…do you protest when Christians are offended or only when non-Christians are offended? I love this idea and would love to implement this. Thank you for your honest and theological correct posts, even if they are not politically correct. I think God appreciates the latter more.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Search this site:

Reader Perks

Reader Perks

Footer

  • Facebook
  • Flickr
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

All Images On This Site Are Protected By Copyright

You may not use any images from this site unless you meet one or more of these requirements: 1) You receive permission in writing from Delia Randall for each specific image you would like to use. 2) You use ONE image in a round up or feature post with a link back to the appropriate post or the main site for credit and for full posts/tutorials. Thank you!

Archives

Search This Site:

© 2022 delia creates · Design By Bloom