Christmas Traditions

My family has the best  Christmas traditions. One is hiding tiny, plastic baby Jesus. We also go to my kind Grandparents' house.  One other awesome tradition is giving to others.
     My family has an exiting nativity scene.  The nativity scene comes with pocket sized baby Jesus.  My mom likes to hide Him all over the mysterious living room, and the first person to find Him gets a delightful prize, but that's not all we do.
     Every year we look forward to going to our grandparents' house to celebrate Christmas and the New Year.  We also get to see our CRAZY cousin and aunt! We party and fill up on snacks till midnight.  We all give enjoyable gifts to each other. All of us have a merry Christmas and happy New Year.
     Giving gifts to others is awesome. It is wonderful to receive gifts, but it is better to give than receive.  Last year my friendly family bought chickens and sent them to Africa to feed starving Africans. This year we gave money to Nazarene Compassionate Ministries.  Nazarene Compassionate Ministries gives money to people in need of a home or food.
     We all have traditions they may be giving away Christmas gifts, devouring roast beef, or playing fun games.  Christmas traditions only make Christmas more fun.

What Is Special About a Gift

     Giving and receiving gifts can be meaningful in many different ways. Gifts can be fun or funny, have special love attached to them, or be a sacrifice like God's gift of eternal life.
      Once I gave away a picture of myself to someone at a Christmas party. I got my picture taken in the backyard.  My mom and I put it in a frame and wrapped it in wrapping paper.  My family and I went to a Christmas party.  The special part about that gift was that it was a white elephant gift. When the guy opened the gift everyone at the party was laughing HARD! That might have been the most fun gift I've ever given.
      My dad and I made a wonderful desk My desk wasn't a Christmas gift or birthday gift it was an awesome gift.  I built my desk with my dad. I made my desk so I could construct Lego models on it.  The desk is special because my dad spent money and lots of hard work on it.  This gift might have had the most love attached to it.
     Jesus died on the cross for me.  Jesus died to wash away my sins.  If I believe that He exists and that He died to save me than I will have everlasting life in Heaven. What a great gift!  Jesus wants me to go to Heaven and live with him forever.  The special thing is that Jesus also died for you and he loves and cares about every living thing on earth, and hopes you choose to believe in Him too. This is the most sacrificial gift I could ever receive
     When you receive a gift think about how much someone loves and cares for you.  When you give gift make it fun or funny and show the receiver how much you care about them.  Don't forget to tell them that Jesus loves and cares for them too, and sent his only son to die for them as well as everyone else.    ;-)