Dec 18, 2017
On this episode of the Journeywomen podcast, I chatted with my friend, Kimberly Wootten, about all things Christmas! Kimbo and I took the three simple joys concept and extended it to three things about Christmas, like three Christmas traditions, three things we want our kids to know about Christmas, and for all of you last-minute shoppers, three gifts you can give, no purchase required. As wonderful as the gifts, traditions, and symbolism around Christmas can be, we’re right there with you feeling on the brink of overwhelmed and over-programmed. If you’re burned out by all that you’ve committed to, we want to encourage you with the grace of the true Christmas message: we don’t have to do it all because Christ has done it all for us. Praise the Lord that even in the hustle of the holidays we are presented with practical opportunities to embrace the actual meaning of Christmas as we look away from ourselves and look to Jesus. We hope you feel encouraged to do that even now!
THREE FAVORITE THINGS ABOUT CHRISTMAS
Food and song
Advent
Christmas traditions
THREE CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS TO IMPLEMENT
Advent
Giving to others
Remembering
THREE THINGS I WANT MY KID TO KNOW ABOUT CHRISTMAS
Christmas is about Jesus
We give because of what Christ has given to us
To see their mommy yearning for Christ’s coming
THREE FAVORITE CHILDHOOD CHRISTMAS MEMORIES
Sleeping with siblings on Christmas Eve; reading the Christmas story together
Candlelight service on Christmas Eve
The expectation of not putting real names on packages
THREE FAVORITE CAROLS
THREE PAINS OF CHRISTMAS
Materialism
Busyness
Loneliness
THREE INTERESTING THINGS ABOUT CHRISTMAS
Red and green symbolize Christ’s death and the life we have in him.
Evergreen trees have life year round, in the same way that we experience eternal life through Jesus.
Bells are a symbol of ringing in the good news of the Gospel.
Bonus: We see candles out and about around Christmas time not just because it’s darker for longer periods of time during the winter, but also because this season revolves around the light of the world: Jesus.
THREE GIFTS YOU CAN GIVE
Words of Affirmation that communicate value and identity
An Experience
Gifts of Remembrance
HUNTER AND KIMBERLY’S CHRISTMAS RESOURCES
Journeywomen Christmas on Spotify
SheReadsTruth Advent everything - women, men, kids
Risen Motherhood: Making Christmas Traditions Matter
Behold the Lamb of God by Andrew Peterson