This morning Mom and I were talking about our teaching years and the fun of having farm kids in our classes. Most of the stories I can’t share here 😳 but Mom has one of my favorites.

She was teaching 3rd grade and the class took a field trip to the Kansas City zoo. Now teachers and parents know that trips to the zoo should happen early in the day and this particular trip did. As they walked past cages and enclosures, they came upon a grassy enclosure that housed animals about the size of goats. One goat was in its side, its torso swollen and its legs splayed out from its body.

Children began to point at the poor creature ask “Mrs Mullins, what is that animal? Is there something wrong with it?” Mom, wishing that a zoo worker had walked by the area before the zoo has opened that morning hummed and hawed a bit and finally responded, “I’m not sure, maybe it is sleeping; let’s move on.”

A young man, no doubt a farm kid, came to Mom and quietly said “Mrs Mullins, that animal isn’t asleep; it’s dead.” Mom quietly agreed and said something about moving on.

Ever tried to keep a Christmas tradition alive that died sometime ago? I did one year. We had a tradition from my family that I tried with the kids and they did it – once! The next year it was clear to me that my tradition was dead. There was no hope of resurrecting it.

And, to be honest, there was no need to try to bring it to life. We established our own traditions.

So, this year when you get anxious that your crew isn’t interested in watching that “favorite” movie or eating that “special” dish, let it go. That particular tradition is probably already dead and you just didn’t know it.

But as we recognize that our beloved traditions are not as important to the next generation, let’s make sure that one remains (or is added) as part of our Christmas celebration – recognizing the gift of God that came in the form of a baby. Jesus who lived among us, taught us how to live, was innocent as He took on our sins, was murdered, and who rose from he dead and offers salvation to each of us today.

Why not, this year, read the Christmas story from the Bible? And have the kiddos read part or all of it to you? If you practice only this one thing on Christmas, you will find that the celebration can make a difference in your heart and life.

Need some help to read the story? Here is a link that might help: https://godventure.co.uk/the-christmas-story-scriptures-in-four-parts/

Try it – not only will you like it, but it will change your Christmas celebrations forever!

Love,

Jill (just one of God’s kids)