Away In The Manger
Church life is so important for early childhood development. Not only does it reinforce the biblical truths we hope to instill in our kids, but it also provides ample opportunities for the healthy socialization that is critical to life-long success. If you haven’t prioritized church attendance, the holidays are a perfect time to begin a new chapter in your family life. There are often special services and festivities that can make the venture more comfortable, and you can establish a new habit as you go into the new year. With regular attendance, you will reap many blessings from engaging with church family, including a strong support system for raising kids.
One of my earliest memories took place in our church during the Christmas season when I was very young. Our small church was made up of former hippies and the newly saved “Jesus people.” My siblings and I grew up in a church that embraced the change from the old to the new. Like most kids of the 70’s, we were rambunctious at times and enjoyed being the center of attention. We were often found singing on the stage with family members. This particular year, the Christmas play was planned and performed by my siblings and the youth in the church. The play included a modern-day scene with toys around a Christmas tree, and a nativity scene. Some of the kids dressed as animals and had fun with all the sound effects.
I don’t remember how young I was, but I was much too old to be the baby Jesus. Why they picked me for Baby Jesus I’ll never know. I remember being carried in a processional with Mary and Joseph and being put in the manger! Then I fell asleep because the next thing I remember was waking up to applause surrounded by scratchy hay! How entertaining that play must have been to those adults, watching how the kids and teenagers played out the story of Christmas. Looking back, it was brilliant for the leadership to let us have that experience. The kids had to work together in a team, learn speaking parts, design the costumes and the set, and perform on the stage. In reflection, who I am today professionally and in ministry is a direct result of all the experiences I had growing up in church.
Church and Families Go Together
The holidays are special and provide the perfect time to create memories and traditions with our children. As parents, church helps us carry the load as we train our children to be godly adults. Participating in church activities and Bible study keeps our own spiritual journey on the right track. Learning to volunteer and serve others keeps our hearts tender, and it teaches our children responsibility, humility, and it builds self-confidence.
Our Lord reminds us in Deuteronomy 11:18-21 of how important it is for us to model and reinforce these Biblical truths of how God takes care of His children:
Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates, so that your days and the days of your children may be many in the land the Lord swore to give your ancestors, as many as the days that the heavens are above the earth.
This Christmas, take time to reflect on your commitment to church fellowship. Do you need to start from scratch and find the right place of worship for your family? Perhaps you have a tug to get more involved. Is God calling you to serve in a new capacity? Schedule time to talk this through with your family and make the commitment together to grow as part of the larger family of God.