Since we’re official empty nesters and travel quite a bit we decided to celebrate our family Christmas 🎄 a couple of weeks early! That way our kids can have more freedom to celebrate Christmas at their own home, travel, visit in-laws, etc. We had a blast 💥 on Sunday, December 13, starting off with a big country breakfast, games, kissing 😘 under the mistletoe, gift-exchange between the grandkids, and a fun white elephant gift exchange (timed!) with the adults.
We also sang “The Twelve Days of Christmas” with singing 🎶 parts for each of us! (We had to start over several times! 😂) We love to have fun together and it’s my hope that our children and grandchildren will always remember our fun times together. ❤️ We also talked about the folklore of the hidden Christian meaning of The Twelve Days of Christmas:
1 The partridge in the pear tree represents Jesus Christ.
2 Turtle Doves = The Old and New Testaments.
3 French Hens = Faith, Hope and Charity.
4 Calling Birds = the Four Gospels.
5 Golden Rings = The first Five Books of the Old Testament, the “Pentateuch,” which gives the history of man’s fall from grace.
6 Geese A-laying = the six days of creation.
7 Swans A-swimming = the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit.
8 Maids A-milking = the eight beatitudes.
9 Ladies Dancing = the nine Fruits of the Holy Spirit.
10 Lords A-leaping = the Ten Commandments.
11 Pipers Piping = the eleven faithful apostles.
12 Drummers Drumming = the twelve points of doctrine in the Apostle’s Creed.
Whether the folklore is true or not, at Christmastime or whenever, I want each of our children and grandchildren to know the true meaning of Christmas. It’s not about Santa. It’s not about traditions. It’s not about food and it’s not about gifts; these things are all fine to enjoy but Christmas is really all about Jesus.
Jesus did not come into the world to do good works or to leave an example for us to follow. No, “Jesus came into the world to save sinners….” (1 Timothy 1:15) and of which “I am the worst of them.”
I want our children to hear the gospel message from us, to see His words written on our walls, and to come know Him personally. Yes we do have fun together at Christmastime, and by the grace of God many times throughout the year, but the overall most important thing we will ever do is pass our faith on to our loved ones, and pray for each one of them to come to know Christ in God’s perfect timing, and to grow in His grace. 🙌🏻
Merry Christmas 🎄 everyone and may God bless you and your family with the true meaning of Christmas this year. ❤️
Treasure In Jars of Clay 