Many families find the rush to the holidays stress making and, busy and ultimately... empty. We love our children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews... but they can end up with so many toys and gifts they don't really remember or appreciate what they have received. If Christmas is about Jesus' birthday, then why do WE get so many presents?
Some families have been looking for different, meaningful ways to celebrate Christ's birth.
#1 Four Gifts
Families report that limiting gifts to 4 per child gives them more time, more money, and more meaning and enjoyment in the gifts they do receive.
#2 Advent Calendars
Many families are reviving the Advent Calendar tradition - a way to help pass the time of waiting until Christ is born. This year, beginning Nov 27 (the first Sunday in Advent), there will be kits for families to make their own Advent calendars that look like this: Each tree is made up of strips of paper with Bible verses on them. You could also put a task on the paper strips as well: be a friend, help Daddy with a chore, send a card to a shut in, etc.
#3 A different kind of Advent Calendar
Rather than get something, each day of Advent, the child/family places a food item in the box, which is then donated to the local food pantry, or pet items which are donated to the local shelter.
#4 Alternative Christmas Gifts
Gifts which support others, or gifts which are produced by artisans. We will have Alternative Christmas Gifts at the December 18 Coffee Fellowship: Heifer International, PC(USA), and Church World Service all offer unique gifts for those who already have too many sweaters and scarves.
