The Stockings Were Hung

By Carin LeRoy –

As a little girl, my favorite Christmas tradition in our house was the stockings. My Mom made the whole family stockings decorated with different holiday-themed objects sewing on sequins, beads and putting our name on each one. Every December, she would hang them on our staircase. Each year I would anticipate the little gifts I’d find in it. I loved getting up early on Christmas morning and looking in my stocking. We’d find several little treasures hidden inside.

When I got married my Mom gave my Christmas stocking to me. I decided I wanted to carry on the tradition in our family and began to make my own husband and children a green felt stocking, complete with holiday-themed figures. I sewed on sequins and beads and wrote their name in glitter on each of their stockings, just like my Mom did. Even when we lived overseas, I still carried those stockings with me. Although I was thousands of miles across the ocean, those stockings still reminded me of home.

When my daughter married, she took hers and now carries on the same tradition. The only difference is that I’m sewing the stockings for her family. Every time she has a child, she wants me to create another green felt stocking. Three generations in my family have grown up with homemade stockings lovingly made by someone in the family.

As we move into this Christmas season, let’s remember some of the traditions that we’ve grown up with and share them with our children and grandchildren. Christmas isn’t all about the gifts, the busyness or the decorations. It’s about family, tradition and the birth of a Savior. Let’s remember the reason we celebrate in the first place—the miracle of the birth of Jesus and the reason He came to earth.

PRAYER: Lord, thank You for this Christmas season. Help us to enjoy our family and traditions, but remember that the birth of Your son is the reason we celebrate.

“She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1: 21 NIV).

Today’s devotional is by Carin LeRoy, wife to Dale and mother of three grown children and one almost-grown teenager. She has been a missionary with Pioneers since 1982. Her passions are family, missions, piano, and writing to challenge others to live faithful lives for God.

She’s So NOT a Material Girl

By Cynthia Ruchti –

One would expect a five-year-old girl growing up in middle America to create a Christmas wish list that would help boost the economies of many local and online businesses, particularly in the toy departments. Or electronics.

But when her mother, my daughter, sat Hannah down the other day to help her spell the words beyond a kindergartner’s knowledge base, the first thing Hannah wanted on her list was toilet paper.

That’s right.

“Why toilet paper, honey?” her mom asked.

Without losing a beat, Hannah replied, “I wouldn’t want us to run out.”

A five-year-old concerned about the family’s toilet paper supply? She didn’t ask for Beat-the-Lottery Barbie, or Spangle-Dangle designer jeans, or the latest attachment for the latest version of the latest techno-game system.

The family chuckled when we heard Hannah’s top item on her wish list. Then we sobered. She’s obviously not a “material” girl. Lord, please keep her that innocent and uncomplicated.

Then the Lord took me past that response to a deeper layer of understanding. It almost seemed silly, at first, that a five-year-old would concern herself with the family toilet paper supply. I imagine her mom and dad assuring her, “Hannah, you won’t have to worry about things like that. We’ll take care of them for you.”

Isn’t that much like what Jesus told all of us? To those who were worried about how they’d feed and clothe themselves and their families, about food and shelter and heat and shoes and coats, Jesus said, “Your Father knows you have need of them.” The basics of provision? The Lord knows we need them. No need to put them on our wish list.

Just our “thank You” list.

PRAYER: Lord, Your provision is so complete. From the gift of life to the gift of abundant life to the gift of eternal life, I am most blessed. Great gift-giving God, thank You for taking good care of me and those I love.

“Your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his  righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Matthew 6:32b NIV).

Today’s devotional is by Cynthia Ruchti, writer and producer of the radio ministry THE HEARTBEAT OF THE HOME and current president of American Christian Fiction Writers. Cynthia’s debut novel—They Almost Always Come Home—released from Abingdon Press in Spring 2010 and A Door County Christmas released Fall 2010. Cynthia writes stories of hope that glows in the dark. www.cynthiaruchti.com.

Comfort in Customs

By Hally Franz –

While some might call it misery, living in the Midwest offers something that some parts of the country don’t. Those of us in the middle enjoy a very distinct change of seasons, where summer is hot and humid, winter cold and icy, and spring and fall colorfully bridge the two. It’s my favorite thing about where we live. Unfailing weather and scenic changes signal us not only to dress and entertain ourselves differently, but also to anticipate the seasonal customs to come.

In most homes, children instinctively know what and how holiday season’s activities will be celebrated. At the Franz house, Mom’s rule states that Christmas movies cannot be viewed until Thanksgiving has come and gone; we won’t cheat Thanksgiving for The Griswolds. Each year we ladies have a shopping weekend, and everyone knows lists must be ready before we leave.

When decorating begins, our daughter remembers which rooms house the various nativity scenes and international Santas, and her brother reminds Dad when it’s time to begin the lights. For years now, my mom has assigned a country to our Christmas celebration. She serves up food and trivia from a chosen country. While some resist the learning aspect of this, it has become great fun and a routine part of each year’s events. There will be preparation of Operation Christmas Child boxes, a school program, a 4-H party and our New Year’s Eve gathering with dear friends. Most is standard holiday stuff, but each family develops their unique spin and set of holiday customs. Kids enjoy and need these take-it-to-the-bank traditions.

Many children do not have the security and comfort that comes with knowing what comes next. They aren’t sure where, how and with whom they’ll spend Christmas. And, worse yet, they don’t fully understand what they’re celebrating. Kids need to be able to count on something, at special and ordinary times of the year, each day and every hour.

When we faulty and frail humans fail one another, there is peace in knowing that there is always one sure thing. God sent His Son for us. His birth provided hope for mankind, and His death and resurrection redemption for us. During the Christmas season, we should celebrate a lot, recognizing the Christ Child at the center of each event. And, we should share a lot, giving young and old the message of God’s unfailing love.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank You for sending Your Son, and thank You for the promise of forgiveness. Remind us that though we can’t count on the world, we can put our faith in You.

“And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us” (Luke 2:15 KJV).

Today’s devotion is by Hally Franz. Hally is a former teacher and high school guidance counselor, turned homemaker. She enjoys volunteering at her children’s school, teaching Bible classes at her church, leading projects in 4-H, writing, reading, scrapbooking and rousing (though, sometimes, not pretty) zumba classes.

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