Lisa Whelchel - The Adventure of Christmas: Helping Children Find Jesus in Our Holiday Traditions

The ADVENTure of Christmas
published by Multnomah Books

2004 by Lisa Whelchel

Artwork by Jeannie Mooney. All rights reserved.

International Standard Book Number: 978-1-59052-089-5
eISBN: 978-0-307-56382-8

Design by Koechel Peterson & Assoc., Inc., Minneapolis, Minnesota

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are taken from:
Holy Bible, New Living Translation 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.
All rights reserved.
Other versions include:
The Holy Bible, New International Version ( NIV ) 1973, 1984 by International Bible Society, used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.
The Holy Bible, New King James Version ( NKJV ) 1984 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
The Holy Bible, King James Version ( KJV )
The New Testament in Modern English, Revised Edition (Phillips) 1958, 1960, 1972 by J. B. Phillips.
The Message by Eugene H. Peterson, Copyright 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. All rights reserved.

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It is with great joy that I am able to dedicate this book to my father, Jimmy Lee Whelchel . I am grateful for the wonderful childhood memories he provided, especially the ones surrounding Christmas.

I am also indebted to my spiritual father, Pastor Jack Hayford , for hosting the best birthday party in town each Christmas and for teaching us to celebrate the celebration.

I f you were to ask my children , What is the meaning of Christmas? they would dutifully reply, The birth of Jesus. But I know them better than that. To these three little ones, Christmas is really about opening presents, baking cookies, decorating the tree, and stringing twinkle lights with Daddy.

Sure, we read the Christmas story, attend candlelight services, and quote the obligatory Jesus is the reason for the season while simultaneously wiping tears from their eyes and drool off their chins in the Barbie aisle of Toys R Us. But if you could see into my childrens hearts, you would understand that, to them, Christmas is not only about the birth of Jesusits also about celebrating the birth of Jesus.

I recently learned that celebrating Christmas is not far from the heart of God, either. Feeling like Jesus had gotten lost in the frenzy of the holiday season, I asked the Lord to show me what I could do to teach my children the true meaning of Christmas. I was caught off-guard when He simply replied, Dont do anything differently. Look in the middle of the celebration and you will find Me.

He was right, of course. I didnt need to orchestrate moments to pontificate with my kids about the commercialization of Christmas. Instead, Jesus was beckoning me to come to the party and bring the kids. In doing so, we ran into Him at school, in our living room, even at the mall. He hid in the lights, the carols, and the cards. He was there when we dressed the evergreen tree, when Dad dressed up in a red suit, and when we ate turkey and dressing! We got caught up in all the trappings of Christmas only to discover that it was neither the enemy nor the world that set the bait.

Now it is my desire to lure parents into the hustle and bustle of Christmas and then set them free to join their children in the celebrationguilt-free. On each day of the traditional Advent, the twenty-four days preceding Christmas, we will explore together a different aspect of the Christmas celebration. Its amazing how short a distance you have to go to find Jesus in our present-day symbols and traditions. We will encounter the true meaning of Christmas in such unlikely places as a candy cane, a fruitcake, and the partridge in a pear tree. We will rediscover the significance of Santa Claus, tree ornaments, and even the colors of Christmas.

I know that my own children (one in particular) seem to hear better with their hands. I can tell them something all day long, but if they get the chance to do something with that information, then it is usually theirs for life. With that in mind, Ive included fun and simple activities each day to help you teach the profound truth of Jesus birth in a way that will remain in your childs heart long after the Christmas decorations are back in the attic.

Having been an actress since I was a child, Ive often wished there was a script for life. It would be so much easier. Many times Ive known what I wanted to say to my children but just didnt know how to say it. Just in case you have ever felt the same way, Ive written a short script for each day to help you easily share these truths with your family.

Of course, you could read the book aloud to your children, but the truth is, they would much rather hear from you than from me. I suggest that first you read the history and application of each of these symbols and traditions. Then look for one of those teachable moments and ask your children a few of the scripted questions. (You, the oh-so-wise mommy, will just happen to be ready with the answers.)