Today’s guest post is by my fabulous friend Anne Marie from Future Flying Saucers.
I’m so glad she’s sharing her tips for surviving the holidays. They came just in time for me. Anne Marie shares great Bible lessons—don’t forget to take a look!
The fall festivals and candy gathering are over. We’ve traveled through Thanksgiving and we are on the homestretch as Christmas looms before us. If your house is like mine, you have eight plastic containers filled with Christmas cheer that were dragged down from the attic and are waiting to be opened and used.
You glance at the boxes…then you stare at the calendar wondering when you will actually have time to buy a tree, let alone decorate it. There’s an office party, the kids’ Christmas musical, family get-togethers, choir rehearsals, school parties, birthday parties, concerts to attend, other church programs to attend…
How in the world does one keep the family focused on Jesus during the Christmas season?
7 Tips for Surviving the Holidays with Kids
1) Do not over-schedule.
It is ok to say, “No,” to something. You do not have to have something scheduled every night of the week. Choose two events per week that are the most important to your family and stick with those options. Whenever you choose to do something, you are always sacrificing something else. Be sure to sacrifice that which is least important.
There is an occasion for everything, and a time for every activity under heaven. ~ Ecclesiates 3:1 (HCSB)
Spend your year learning more about the Bible as a family with this fun Bible verse devotional calendar.
2) Budget for gifts and entertainment
… especially if finances are already a stressful issue in your family. This can vary by family. Some designate a specific amount to be spent the entirety of the season. Others have an amount per person to spend. Some budget a certain amount for immediate family and another amount for “extra” gifts. Once figuring out the events you plan to attend, budget the money you will need, pad it with a few extra dollars, and then stick with it. If a new activity pops up and you do not have the money for it, then it is an easy “no” decision. {See tip #1.}
Your life should be free from the love of money. Be satisfied with what you have, for He Himself has said, I will never leave you or forsake you. ~ Hebrews 13:5 (HCSB)
Looking for some fun ways to teach your kids about the biblical story of Christmas? Check out these great crafts!
3) “New to you” toys are just as good.
For some reason we have this idea drilled into our heads that every gift given must be new and store-bought. But when children are young, will they really know if you bought them a bike from Craigslist or from the elite bike store? Gifts do not have to be expensive. And really, does a five year old need the newest iPad? Yes, parents, we want to give our kids the best, but sometimes the lesson of frugality is worth more than the most expensive toy in the store. {See tip #2.}
The one who loves money is never satisfied with money, and whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with income. This too is futile. When good things increase, the ones who consume them multiply; what, then, is the profit to the owner, except to gaze at them with his eyes? ~ Ecclesiastes 5:10-11 (HCSB)
This fun printable Advent calendar is the perfect way to concentrate on the coming of Jesus with 24 Bible readings!
4) Get enough sleep.
You know as well as I do that when we parents do not get enough sleep then we can become grouchy. (Or is it just me?) Christmas is a time for smiles and cheer, not frowns and impatience. Remember that busy calendar that is going to have one to two events scheduled per week? On those other evenings try to go to bed thirty minutes earlier than you normally would. Try it. You might find that you are a better example of the Christmas Spirit for your kids.
I lie down and sleep; I wake again because the Lord sustains me. ~ Psalm 3:5 (HCSB)
Grab your FREE Bible Study Tool Kit–over 130 pages of Bible resources for your family!
5) Progress through an Advent Calendar as a family.
Whatever your religious affiliation, never is there harm in reading scripture together. There are so many advent resources available that you can take your pick. Just do it. I have several books I have used in the past and as we read the scripture and devotional, we add a quilt square to a larger quilt as we count down to Jesus’ birthday. We also light the candles of an advent wreath each Sunday. The kids love it and look forward to it each evening. Whatever you choose to do, reading scripture as a family will become a treasured Christmas tradition for your children.
Teach a youth about the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it. ~ Proverbs 22:6 (HCSB)
6) Understand that crazy, unplanned “things” WILL take place.
No matter how much preparation you put into the holidays, something is bound to happen that will mess up a well laid plan. Whether it is a Christmas runny nose, a sudden snow storm, or the Christmas tree falling down {hey, it happens!}, be flexible. Have a sense of humor. Take a picture. Make a memory. Take a deeeeeeep breath.
Commit your activities to the Lord, and your plans will be achieved. ~ Proverbs 16:3 (HCSB)
7) Remember, the holiday isn’t about you.
It isn’t about your family either. And it isn’t about church, or stores, or if the nativity scene can be placed on the capitol lawn. It’s about Jesus. I wonder how our communities would change if more parents kept Jesus as the focus of the holiday. Sacrificial gifts would be given with a happy heart. People who have not, would have. Love would be freely offered. Children would see the real Majesty of the season instead of looking for magic to come down a chimney.
I am the Lord your God. ~ Deuteronomy 5:6 (HCSB)
Life is busy. The holidays are busy. Corrie ten Boom said, “If the devil can’t make us bad, he will make us busy.” Isn’t that a great way to help us keep our eyes OFF of Jesus when we’re supposed to be focused UPON Him?
Take a deep breath. Really think about this month of December. What do you want to accomplish with your children? And once you have that in mind, you probably won’t lose it.
May Jesus be your goal.
Anne Marie is an Austenite and the author of the blog Future.Flying.Saucers. She is a southern belle who is married to her Mr. Darcy. They have three of the silliest children in South Carolina. Anne Marie has a passion for Bible study and teaching the Word to adults and children. On Wednesday nights you will find her teaching Biblical concepts to Awana clubs at her church. Find her Awana and Bible lessons at Future.Flying.Saucers. You can also find her on Facebook and Pinterest.
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Help Your Kids Learn and Love the Bible
You want your kids to learn and love the Bible.
You want to teach the Bible…
As parents, we deeply desire the best for our kids. We look for the right schools, we make them eat right and exercise, and we get them involved in extracurricular activities. We take our job as parents seriously.
But are we also putting our time and energy into
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Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved,
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Our job, as parents who love Jesus, is to help our kids become approved workers, unashamed and rightly handling the word of truth.
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…and you can!
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