Adorning Christmas with Christ

A few years ago my husband and I down sized our family of seven from a really large home to a two bedroom, one bathroom little home. With our kids I studied tiny home living and capsule wardrobes to prepare for a home without any wardrobes. Together but mostly me, we began to down size our life. It had an interesting effect, as I gave physical things away I was able to give internal battles away also, I didn't have to hold on to baby clothes and I didn't have to hold on to hurt feelings or self deprecation. Making sure not to gather clutter (emotional or literal) is still a work in progress. Part of downsizing meant down sizing Christmas adornments. I was blessed with a friend who had previously downsized Christmas trees and ornaments out of her small home and busy life but was ready to embrace them again. That year we welcomed a sturdy pallet Christmas tree into our life and that was it, that was all we had room for. Our little girls painted it (and the deck) with joy - decorating done. We also embraced Pentatonix Christmas albums on youtube to fill our home with a constant Christmas cheer.

The following year, Christmas lost all of its glittering wonder for me with a late misacrriage of a very much wanted and welcome son. My husband and I worked (prayed) really hard not to suck the joy and wonder out of Christmas for our children. Our whanau/family that had experienced those same life disapointments made sure we were nurtured in love that Christmas.

Last Christmas an opportunity to serve our town appeared in the form of recylced or upcylced Christmas trees. Feeling brave, I had my husband build me a wooden tree with scavenged wood. I painted it with the nativity and words "let love light the way" (my favourite Disney Christmas song, from Elena of Avalor "Let Love Light the Way", if you've not had little girls introduce it to you yet).

On the other side of the tree, the wisemen and words:

Manaakitanga - hospitality, kindness, generosity, support - the process of showing respect, generosity and care for others.

Whanaungatanga - relationship, kinship, sense of family connection - a relationship through shared experiences and working together which provides people with a sense of belonging. It develops as a result of kinship rights and obligations, which also serve to strengthen each member of the kin group. It also extends to others to whom one develops a close familial, friendship or reciprocal relationship.

This was my quiet protest to cultural intolerance, using art to encourage our community to embrace some values we could actually have in common, at a time when the spirit of love is in greater abundance.

This Christmas marks two years of a huge family trial, in which, we have tried to find joy through our journey, while helping each of member of our whanau/family sink deeper roots into Christ. Studying the New Testament, learning of Christ through the eyes and accounts of those who knew him, then those who knew those who did know Christ first hand, has blessed us, blessed me through hard times.

Sharon (read the site about section to get to know Sharon) and I have had many discussions on the joyful things weve been learning and on how Paul can seem harder than Isaiah to understand sometimes! This week she shared a scripture that opened my mind and heart to an undertsanding I had not seen this year in similar phrases or ever before. It's not even a traditional Christmas scripture but the spirit enlightened me and like all the Christmases I've shared above, this Christmas I'm blessed with the desire to share still.

1Peter 3:3-5

.... let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel;

But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.

For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves ...

Let me add my moment and words of enlightenment to Peters:

.... let Christmas not be that outward adorning of glittering ornaments ...

But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek/kind/gentle and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.

For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned their homes and their clebrations and their seasons ...

I have been quietly working at this for years. This year we are looking forward to an extraordinarily simplified Christmas, I am doing it with eyes of joy and praise. My husband and I are looking forward to spending hours at the beach then river, eating a delicious but simple menu and a family movie or two. Our daughters are looking forward to their cousins who have decided to join us and to make a pupput show of the night when Christ was born. Our big sons are looking forward to Taro and Chop Suey. There will be some simple gifts, which we hope and anticipate will bring a moment of pleasure and happiness. There will be jokes and laughing. Most of all I am looking forward to falling on our knees as a family to express gratitude for the gift of Gods only begotten son, for his life, for his infinite atoning sacrifice and for the power given him from God his Father, to be ressurected, for the opportunity we have to be families forever in the presence of our Father in Heaven and our Saviour. This is how I want to adorn my Christmas with Christ.

Adorning Christmas with Christ in a sincere way can't just simply happen in our home because its the 25th of December! Our family currently still struggles to kneel not lie on the floor in prayers, or close eyes in prayer, or stop poking each others bums in prayer, or stop whatever else there is to want to do during prayer! Officially this preparation begins on the December the first. (In reality it's a day in day out, 24/7, 365 days of the year effort). There's no official planning - bring in the Christmas tree, pull out the nativity, put some batteries in it, so it can play the one line of Silent Night over and over. The boys and I have joined choir, I love the comradery of trying to sing alto and the joy of singing beautiful harmonies while singing about our Saviour. The girls and I have read the nativity over and over - it is fantastic for settling fights, sibling jealousy and moments of over tired children; a peace descends as we attempt to learn about prophecies and promises being fulfilled. Each evening and most mornings we play youtube to sing along with the Amanaki Christmas song "Is there room." Singing before we pray sets us up for better chances of reverance.

The other night, our youngest reminded us we hadn't sung "Is there room", we all stopped and sang (because when a three year old understands and loves the routine and testimony it's worth the effort). When we sing this carol (that we all appreciate and all try to sing different harmonies - succesful or not) a feeling or warmth and love for our Saviour descends on my heart and a peace amongst our family.

Last night as we played through a Christmas song list we stopped at O Holy Night, the Gentri version. Our oldest son is not a Gentri lover but he didn't complain at this song choice. There is a moment in the chorus, where the three tenors sing with reverent intensity and adoration for the Saviour, that it never doesn't stir mine or my husbands heart:

Fall on your knees

O hear the angel voices

I have painted the words on our pallet Christmas tree. They are profound. My husband has wondered and hoped he will fall on his knees when the opportunity comes.

A couple of nights ago our five year old daughter wanted Christmas to be about princesses instead of Jesus. Unimpressed, I took the opportunity to reestablish who, what, when, where, how, and why the first Christmas.

We watched a new clip The Christ Child together, I asked "What are the shepherds doing?" later "What are the wise men doing?" Our five year old answered "Falling on their knees" no question mark in her intonation, no upsetness at the lack of princesses. It came to me, to my heart and mind in that moment quietly but clearly, how I can adorn my home with Christ this Christmas? I can prepare my family not just me, to fall on our knees in sincere understanding of why we have the joyful season of Christmas, the opportunity to play together all day and recieve neat things; because it all emulates the joy shepherds and wise men experienced, after years of personal study, prayer and travel, to be able to freely worship the King of Heaven and Earth, to see generations of promises from God to man fulfilled and about to be fulfilled! Getting the kids to understand what I've learned over 38 years is a big task but I'm going to persistently and quietly keep trying, for this Christmas and for the duration of my life; I will keep sharing the joy of adorning our life with Christ.

Tonight as we listened to Cee Lo sing Mary did you know, that same daughter shared some beautiful tender thoughts she had about Jesus taking care of poor people at Christmas. I had to acknowledge to myself that beautiful moment (because they come and go quickly in family life and it is always a gift when our kids share the tender truths in their heart).

This morning the very reason I sat down at the computer and again repeatedly throughout the day was to share how my year has become adorned with Christ. At the begining of my personal Come Follow Me studies I became increasingly ineterested in learning the various names and titles of Christ. Sharon and I have collected a list. Some of my favourite learnings are:

Yeshua - Yesous - Jesus - Deliverer

Christ - Christos/ Messiah - Mesias - Meshiach - Annointed

I Am

Captain of Salvation

Bishop of our Souls

Father of Lights

...

I like to pic collage my learnings, below is a work in progress.

Sharon has a beautiful tradition of adorning her home literally and spiritually with Christ. With her family she researches names and titles of our Lord and makes them into ornaments for their christmas tree. I was impressed by this, so I've fiddled hastily to create a printable ornament document (like my cake, it's also not perfect). Maybe I'll use it for the Young Womens Christmas lesson I have the privilege of teaching in two weeks, or maybe I'll use it for Come Follow Me studies at home with my family or maybe it will come out in moments of squabbling that need a masterful mediator (the scirptures, colouring pencils and willing mother).

I can begin including my children on my study and over the next 16 days. As a family we can search and learn some of the names of Christ and record them on our paper ornaments and hopefully our hearts.

Funny, on November 30th, I wondered if there was some kind of advent calendar that would be cheap, free or a low craft effort that could bless my families life! With 16 days until Christmas, daily study and consideration of a month long celebration, I've come to an understanding of what I can do to help adorn my home, life and family with Christ this Christmas.

May you also find many ways to adorn your Christmas and life with Christ.