about what you want for yourself. Of course, this is a dead end. The presents are never as good as we hoped they would be, and half of the toys end up broken or unused by February. Give your family a lasting memory of what Christmas is all about by serving someone during this holiday season. Volunteer at a rescue mission, serve as a secret Santa for a family that won’t be able to buy gifts, help a widow or single mom with household tasks and decorating for Christmas, etc. There are a lot of ways to serve; find one and make a memory with your family. 8 Connect to a Church. Ultimately, Christmas is about the God of the universe coming as a man to save His people from their sins. People, not 9 one person. We were never meant to experience life alone. Your Christmas traditions will be much richer if you live them out with friends and fellow members of your church. Attend the special worship services at your church. Join a small group and go to their Christmas get-together. Invite a few people from your church to join you for lunch after church one Sunday in Advent. These relationships will deepen the joy of the season for you and your family for years to come. Merry Christmas! We hope this is a great holiday for you and your family! David Delk is a member of the Board of Directors and former CEO of Man in the Mirror. He and his wife, Ruthie live in Greenville, South Carolina where David is the Executive Pastor of Grace Church. put it on the calendar. Take each child out for a meal and sneak a 15-minute walk with your wife. Get a babysitter and go on a special date. Choose a fun activity and take each child out individually to spend time with you alone. During this time, present them with the note or letter that you wrote. 5 Use a Devotional. If you are a person of faith, consider using a devotional guide to help you and your family experience the full meaning of the season. You can find short readings for each day of Advent in books, in many places online, and in a Bible app on your phone. You could also use a devotional with visual aids, such as the Jesse Tree, which tells the story of Jesus, starting with the creation. Our kids loved getting a chance to hang an ornament on the miniature tree. (Learn more by searching for “Jesse Tree” online). 6 Read a Book. There are a number of wonderful books that you can read with and to your family during Advent. Our family treasured Jotham’s Journey (and its companions) by Arnold Ytreeide. Find a book that has short sections and begin the tradition of reading it together at night. It’s okay if you miss a few nights; just make the commitment to catch up and stay on track so you can finish by Christmas day. 7 Serve Someone in Need. Our culture is consistently telling you and your children that Christmas is all about you. Yeah, you should buy people presents, but really you need to be thinking
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