Putting Christ in Christmas: For the Children       

It always happens just before Christmas. I receive calls like this one: "I’m sorry to bother you but I don’t know what else to do!"

"How can we help you?"

"My husband’s been laid off and we have no savings." or "I’m a single parent and everything I make goes toward paying the bills." Or "My daughter has a drug problem and I’m raising her children and doing everything I can but there is no money." They all end their plea saying: "Is there anything you can do to help our children have a better Christmas?"

Our little church, like others, will do what we can. Several families receive food and a few gifts for the kids, but it never seems to be enough. Two questions keep haunting me:

	"How many more people are in desperate need of our help but never ask?"
	"How do you tell a child that Christmas is for others… but not for them?"

Let’s face the facts. For a child, Christmas is about Santa Claus and presents: some giving and whole lot of receiving. You can say it’s about family and friends. "Yeah, right!" Hopefully you will try to remember the celebration of Christ’s birth. (Watch their eyes turn glassy.) But if you turn on the television, visit a department store or pick up a bulky newspaper full of catalogues and toy ads, the ugly truth screams it’s horrific message. Christmas is about gifts and lots of them!

Unfortunately, for some children, Christmas and Santa Claus represents an all too visible and miserable reminder of who we are and who they quite honestly, are not!

It was never meant to be. Jesus, himself, was born in a barn with only farm animals and a few shepherds as witnesses. He grew up the son of a blue-collar worker in a land occupied by Rome. Throughout his earthly life, Jesus had few if any material possessions. How did we get everything so mixed-up? More important… How can we learn to recapture the Christ in Christmas?

We can start by remembering the children. Jesus never forgot them: The disciples had been arguing about which of them was the greatest. Jesus sat down and called the twelve disciples over to him… Then he put a little child among them. Taking the child in his arms, he said to them, "Anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf welcomes me…" (Mark 9:34-37)

Christmas presents were meant to be symbolic of Christ’s gift of eternal life to us. In other words, what Christ has given to us… we pass on to others. Giving a gift is supposed to be our way of saying, "I love you in the name of Christ!" If we only give to our friends and family, where is the love of Christ? Our challenge then is to broaden our horizons and give to those truly in need.

Several years ago, in our area, religious and community leaders met to talk about providing a better Christmas for all of our children. The result was "Christmas Parents". Last year, we were able to distribute gifts to 587 children. However, more important than the statistics are the stories. One grandmother found a stuffed bear her grandchild had wanted at our toyshop. Other parents made it clear there would have been no gifts for their children without the help of Christmas Parents.

• Every community has an organization like Christmas parents. Volunteer your help.
• Teach your own children about giving by going out to buy gifts. Then donate them.
• Take a child to a worship service or a special Christmas program.
• Read the Christmas story from the Bible to a child and discuss what it really means.
• Join or organize a group of children in your community to sing Christmas carols.

Speaking of Christmas carols. The third verse from "Away in a Manger" says it best: "Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask thee to stay close by me forever, and love me, I pray; bless all the dear children in thy tender care, and fit us for heaven to live with thee there." Put Christ in your Christmas this year by helping a child. God will bless you for it. Have a Merry Christmas.