Practical advice and ideas to make the Christmas season a blessing for you and your family, and an expression of honor and glory to God:

“Since December 25th is observed in commemoration of Christ’s birth, and since children have been taught by precept and example that this was undoubtedly a day of joy and rejoicing, it will be difficult to overlook this period without giving it some attention. It can be used for a good purpose.

“Youth should be treated with great care. They should not be left at Christmas to seek their own amusements in vain pleasures, in diversions that will lower their spirituality. Parents can control this matter by turning their children’s minds and offerings toward God and His cause and the salvation of souls.

The desire for amusements, instead of being restrained and arbitrarily suppressed, should be controlled and directed through patient effort on the part of parents. Their desire to give gifts should be channeled through pure and holy avenues and made to result in a blessing to our neighbor through the maintenance of the treasury in the great and broad work for which Christ came into the world. Self-denial and a spirit of sacrifice marked His conduct. Let this also mark those who profess to love Jesus, for in Him is centered our hope of eternal life.” Review and Herald, December 9, 1884.

“The Christmas and New Year festivities can and should be celebrated in favor of the needy. God is glorified when we help the needy who have large families to support.” Manuscript 13, 1896.

1. The Gifts We Already Have List Hang a very long piece of paper on your wall, refrigerator, or door. Fill the list before Christmas – with all the countless ways God blesses you and your family. Count 1000 (or a little more or less) of the gifts you already have this Christmas!

2. Community Gratitude Make a basket with thank-you cards and leave a pen and stamps in the basket too. Add some simple small gifts if you wish. See if you can empty the card basket by Christmas – one card and a small gift for your mail carrier, garbage collector, building doorman, cleaner, hairdresser, night guard, etc.

3. Love for the Sick Adopt a sick person this Christmas. Someone who cannot leave their home or an elderly person in a nursing home. Discuss with your family what you can do for them personally by Christmas. Sing Christmas carols with them one evening? Bring a small tree and an ornament each week? Bring a meal? Discover ways for your children to interact directly with the person being blessed.

4. Frugal Gifts Before any trip to the mall – visit a second-hand store. Before placing an online order – check Mercado Livre. Help your children enjoy buying precious frugal items – help your children understand that the act of giving has more value than the gift itself!

5. Lower Expectations to Increase Joy “Expectations kill relationships – and joy.” Consider ways to share with your children that Christmas will be smaller and more sacred this year. Decide on a lower value for gifts to be purchased and include creativity as part of Christmas. Live by the smaller rule: Only buy for Christmas Day what can be paid for by New Year’s Day. Lower expectations to increase joy!

6. Give Gifts, Don't Make Lists Spend some one-on-one time with each child, thinking and planning what they can give and how they can *be* the gift, give a blessing – so they can live the truth that: It is more blessed to give than to receive. What can they do? Bake? Create? How can they surprise someone? Bless someone? Who is on their list to give something to – not what is on their list to receive.

7. Gifts for the King Hear Jesus whisper: “When you give to one of these little ones of Mine – you give to Me.” Think about how to make this Christmas radical – and plan to give a gift to our King! Find out what gifts are needed for social assistance projects, ADRA, and other organizations, and throw a birthday party for Jesus – what will you bring Him? A pair of shoes, a blanket, clean drinking water, a Bible for a new convert, a piece of clothing?

8. Open Your Heart, Open Your Home Invite someone to spend Christmas with your family whom you’ve never invited before. Perhaps a neighbor without family, an elderly church member, or even a stranger you often see on the street. Your children will have good suggestions. Pray and ask God to show you the person who will benefit the most.

9. Cards and Songs Prepare Christmas cards with your children – made by them and delivered to a hospital, nursing home, or orphanage. Rehearse some Christmas carols and sing them with your family as you deliver the cards.

10. Cook with Love Make a special cake or dish and take it (with the whole family) to a neighbor on Christmas Eve. Involve your children in the preparation as well.

11. Helpful Ornaments Decorate your Christmas tree with special items that can be taken to a nursing home, orphanage, or other charitable organization. Items such as: toothbrushes and toothpaste, soap, shampoo, etc.

12. A Special Basket Collect money in a piggy bank or decorate your Christmas tree with money that you and your children would use to buy something personal (practice self-denial) and prepare a Christmas basket (with food or a “spiritual basket” of books, DVDs, etc.) and take it to a needy family.

“Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine,

you did for me.” Matthew 25:40

Read other articles about Christmas here.

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