Christmas is this week, and I recently asked my daughters three questions. Their answers reminded me of what makes this season so special—the traditions we share and the true meaning of Christmas.
What is your favorite Christmas tradition?
Both of my girls immediately mentioned our annual "last day of school" tradition. On the final half-day of school before Christmas break, we load up in the car for an adventure. First, we catch a movie at the theater, then head to a sit-down restaurant for a meal, and finish the day by driving around to look at Christmas lights. It’s a day full of fun, and honestly, it’s one of my favorites too.
I also love Christmas Eve. The Christmas Eve service at church helps us pause and focus on the true meaning of the season. And I can’t forget the Christmas Eves of my childhood, spent at my Grandma and Grandpa’s house. Santa himself would make an appearance every year, and those evenings felt magical.
What is your favorite Christmas memory?
My youngest said her favorite memory was the year she lost a tooth on Christmas, earning herself a bonus present from the Tooth Fairy. My older daughter remembered making gingerbread houses, which quickly led to both of them asking if we could do that this year. Maybe Grandma can help with that one!
As for me, one of my favorite memories also involves my grandparents' house. One year, my cousin and I accidentally got locked in a bedroom. Since I had a reputation for being a little mischievous, everyone assumed I’d jammed the door. But this time, I was innocent! The doorknob was stuck. My Grandpa, always the "Mr. Fix-It," got us out in no time, turning what could have been frustrating into a memory we still laugh about.
What is your favorite Christmas gift?
My oldest described the thrill of opening a red box to find the ice skates she had been dreaming of. My youngest said she had too many favorite gifts to pick just one.
When I thought about my own favorite gifts, I struggled to recall specific presents. I remembered my sister receiving an enormous Barbie house one year and another sister opening a game she didn’t care for. But the more I thought about it, I realized: my favorite gift isn’t something I can unwrap. My favorite gift is Jesus.
He didn’t have to leave the comfort of heaven. He didn’t have to take on the consequences of my sins or the sins of the world. But He did. He came to earth as a baby, completely dependent on a teenage mother and an adoptive father who chose to love Him even though He wasn't his biological child.
The Bible reminds us of this in Matthew 1:23: "The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”). This is the miracle of Christmas: God with us. He came to bring us hope, salvation, and a love so deep it changes everything.
Luke 2 is my favorite version of Jesus' birth: "Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord" (Luke 2:11). "Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests'" (Luke 2:13-14). Read the whole story in Luke 2:1-20.
This week, I challenge you to think about your own favorite Christmas traditions, memories, and gifts. How do they point to the ultimate gift of Jesus—the One who came to be Emmanuel, God with us? Take a moment to thank Him for this incredible gift. And as you do, find ways to share His love with others through kindness, generosity, or simply being present.
Merry Christmas, and may your week be filled with peace, joy, and the presence of the greatest gift of all.
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