Category: EarlyChildhood

Crowded at Christmas

Jenny White

In our kitchen, we have a bulletin board next to a calendar. We post schedules of activities, work, school calendars, and appointment reminders. Last week as I posted on the bulletin board, I noticed in the center under all the things, a picture my daughter colored. It is a picture of a cross. The colored picture was at one time front and center.

It was very apparent in that moment how this is a reflection of what happens in life. Jesus is front and center but easily gets crowded out by all of the things in our lives. It is no coincidence this happened during the Advent season. At Advent, we are given the opportunity to evaluate and make room in our hearts to receive Jesus.

I thought about the innkeeper in the story of the Birth of Jesus. We all view the story and think bad of the innkeeper for not making room. He did make room just not with the best accommodations. Luke 2:7 NIV “and she gave birth to her first born, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger because there was no guest room available for them”.

The words “guest room available” stand out to me the most in the scripture. God gave us the gift of Jesus to save us and to live in our hearts. A guest room is temporary and only for a visit. The things in life that crowd out Jesus are all temporary. Activities change, years go by, and appointments are canceled or kept. Jesus stays the same.

I have now rearranged the bulletin board and able to see the full picture. The picture has the words on “Jesus Brings Salvation”. Even though I rearranged the bulletin board or even change my routine, these too are temporary. My life and my heart are the only true reflections of making room for Jesus. Advent is a season and what we get from it can be eternal. As we continue in 2020 and prepare for 2021, how can Advent and Christmas be an internal journey to springboard our eternal journey? As we are excited for what Christmas will bring, let’s make room for the Newborn King.

Merry Christmas!

Jenny White, Director of Early Childhood Ministry

Stories To Treasure

Jenny White
J. White Family Christmas Tree 2020

One of my favorite things to do at Christmas time is sit in a dark room with only the tree lit. I enjoy staring at the tree. When I look at ornaments on the tree, I see reminders of all the stages we have been through in life. We have family ornaments made by a great grandmother, a picture ornament of a grandfather my children never met, and ornaments made by little children that are now teenagers. The ornaments on the tree tell our story. I am reminded of how our story changes with each and every stage and age my children go through. One of my favorite scriptures; Luke 2:19 Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.

As we prepare to celebrate Christmas, Christ’s birth, the story remains the same. How our hearts receive the story every year is different. This is true especially as our children grow and we get to share more of the story with them. No matter how small your children are, there are ways to share the story with them.

Babies, toddlers, and preschoolers learn best through their senses and here are some examples:

Babies

  • Let your baby touch the prickly needles of the tree
  • Light up the tree for them to gaze at it and be mesmerized by the glow
  • Play Christmas carols such as “Joy to the World” or “Go Tell It on the Mountain” for them to hear

Toddlers

  • Let your toddler place an ornament or two on the tree
  • Give your toddler nativity of stuffed animals or Little People to play with this season

Preschoolers

  • Read the story of the first Christmas for them to hear your voice telling the story
  • Play along with their imagination of what it could have been like
  • Give them a rolling pin and cookie cutters to join in cookie-making process for Jesus and sing “Happy Birthday” to Jesus

At every age and every stage, Christmas is to be experienced and received. How will you be creative this Christmas and help even the smallest learn the story and build upon your own story? Enjoy this moment, this year because next year it will be new again.


Blessings
Jenny White
Director of Early Childhood Ministry

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Susan Carey

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