Today in the town of David, a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.
Luke 2:11

A Charlie Brown Christmas is still one of the most popular animated Christmas shows on television each year. My favorite part of this Charles Schultz creation is when Charlie Brown reaches the breaking point in his frustration and dismay over the commercialization of Christmas. In despair he cries out, “Isn’t there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about”? Linus tells him he knows, and begins to recite the Christmas story from Luke 2. When he finishes, he walks over to Charlie Brown and says, “And that’s what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown”.

This Christmas, in the midst of all the gift giving, tree decorating and Christmas parties, be sure to tell the story of what Christmas is all about. When you tell the story, tell the whole story. It’s not just the story of a cuddly baby in a manger. It’s the story of the Incarnation, God choosing to become one of us. He had a purpose for doing so. The Cross is why he came. No gift given to man ever cost so much as the one God gave to us on that starlit night.

Lydia E. Harris has authored a wonderful grandparenting resources, especially for new grandparents, called Preparing My Heart For Grandparenting. She offers some great suggestions for telling the Christmas story with our grandchildren. Here’s one I like because it was part of my Christmas tradition as a child.

“Bring the story to life with drama. Grandma Ruth sewed simple costumes (we used bath robes), and her grandchildren dressed up as nativity characters and acted out the story. Dramatizing the story internalizes Scripture in a way they’ll remember.” I might add it makes for a really fun evening as well!

Here’s another: “It’s our tradition to tell the Christmas story in a mixed-up way so the grandkids can correct us. I mount Christmas cards on chopsticks and print stop on the back of each card. Everyone gets a card. Then as I tell the story, they hold up their ‘stop signs’ whenever I say something incorrect. I begin, ‘Once upon a time,’ and they stop me since this isn’t a fairy tale. I continue with wrong details. The grandkids listen carefully to catch the mistakes, and there’s lots of laughter.”

However you choose to tell it, make sure the story is told. Why? Because that’s what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown!

To order a copy of Lydia’s book, click here.

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