I have always loved the holiday season. I love Christmas gatherings and special holiday music at church and hosting holiday parties and sipping hot cocoa. I love gift-giving and decorating the house for the holidays. Most of all, I love that the Christmas season is an intentional time to more deeply reflect on the birth of our risen Savior and God’s provision of His glorious Son, that we all may be saved and free.
In my early years as a new single mother, I struggled through the holidays as I reflected on all that was lost – the loss of dreams I had once held to, the loss of a planned future that was seemingly brighter than my reality. I grieved secretly at night as my children slept. I scrubbed old toys and placed them under the tree so they would have something to unwrap on Christmas morning. I shed tears as I prepared holiday meals that I knew we’d eat alone. But it was during this time of immense grief that the Lord prompted my heart with two instructions. The first was to open a small savings account (at that time, the bank called it a Christmas fund). I was to put $5 per paycheck in that fund so that during Christmas time, I could make the holidays bright for another single mom in some small way. The second instruction was to begin to host holiday gatherings at my home. In the years that followed, even long after I was married and no longer a single mother, there would be many who would come through my doors who likely had no other place to go during the holidays and just that many more who would receive private blessings from our family.
Single moms, the point is, the holiday season is what we make it. It is the most glorious time of year, as we lean into the assured promise of salvation and restoration, and hope from our Savior. It is our choice what we do to make the holiday special. After that initial instruction from the Lord, I determined that every year going forward, I would celebrate my risen King and rejoice in what He had done, not focus on what I thought I needed and didn’t have. Here are 10 things I’ve learned to do during the holiday season that may help you, too:
1. Read the Christmas story in Luke 2.
As we kick off our Christmas morning, we always read aloud the birth of Jesus. I want my children (and grandchildren) to know the reason we sit around a holiday table and celebrate. I want them to understand the beautiful price paid.
2. Read 1 chapter of Luke every day, starting with December 1.
There are 24 chapters in the book of Luke. Our family reads them, one by one, each day, as a reminder of the birth and life of Jesus and all that He did in His earthly ministry. This postures our hearts correctly for the holiday season.
3. Host a party.
Before you decide that this is too expensive, parties can be super simple. Don’t over-complicate it. Buy some hot cocoa and have all guests bring a dessert or main dish. Throw on some Christmas music and lay out some board games. It really doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive to host friends and family.
4. Attend Christmas events at multiple churches.
While we normally attend Christmas eve at our home church, we usually will attend multiple events hosted at area churches including Christmas plays, live nativity scenes, Christmas caroling, and more.
5. Go Christmas caroling.
Gather a group of friends and hit the town. Whether you decide to go door-to-door in your neighborhood or apartment complex, or venture out and go business-to-business in the service industry, e.g. police station, hospitals, nursing homes, fire departments, etc., this is a holiday treat for adults and kids alike.
6. Host a gift exchange with coworkers.
Our team at work secures a secret list from every team member of their likes, favorite colors, and similar questions, and then names are privately drawn. Each day for a week, the team receives a small inexpensive gift from their coworker, until the big reveal on the final day. There is always lots of fun chatter about who chose who.
7. Bake holiday goodies for friends and family.
I have found memories with my beloved aunt who would bake holiday treats for her neighborhood. We would spend all day in the kitchen and then go out and deliver them door-to-door to neighbors. I have done this same tradition now for almost 30 years. I have had small toddlers participate and now adult children with grandchildren and it is always a holiday blast. (Hint: There are MANY recipes that only require 2-3 ingredients and can be prepared very inexpensively! Just Google it!) I even invite over friends and blast holiday music, so I have plenty of help and fellowship, before I even deliver the goodies.
8. Send Christmas cards.
While I know that sending Christmas cards can get expensive, if mass printed, there are simple ways to keep it inexpensive. Have the kiddos (regardless of their ages) to create handwritten Christmas cards to a select few families and choose to hand-deliver or mail out. Alternatively, choose to send electronic Christmas cards and film a video of your family! Whatever the case, the point is to have fun engaging your kids.
9. Bless others.
This can be done in hundreds of ways and often at low cost. Providing acts of service, such as house cleaning, clothes washing, or babysitting for an elderly family or single mom, is a simple and free idea. Alternatively, select a family or child to sponsor with gifts or volunteer at a homeless shelter as a family. There are many ways to remove focus from oneself and teach the children the act of servanthood our Savior exemplified. (See John 13:1-17).
10. Pray and fast.
It is during this time of year that we should be especially centered on our relationship with the Lord. As we continue to mature in our faith, we recognize that the commercialization of Christmas does not matter, nor is it important to us, including exorbitant gift-giving. What becomes far more important is intimacy with our Lord who makes all things new. Take intentional extra time during this holiday season to pray, seek, and fast, in expectation of the coming new year.
Moms, I hope the few ideas above begin to spark an overflow of creative ideas that show you that the holidays do not have to be expensive to be enjoyed. There is much to be grateful for. May we all be focused on the birth of our Savior and the provision that our Lord has given in the previous years, as well as the great expectation of all He will do in the coming ones.
"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”
ISAIAH 9:6
