Stacy and I want to encourage spiritual growth for everyone in our family. Like many other families, we each open one special gift on Christmas Eve before reading Luke 2. Each gift focuses on spiritual growth. The gifts are always carefully selected to be age appropriate and meaningful to each family member.
Over the years, gifts have most often been books…
- New Bibles (age appropriate, study, chronological)
- Themed Devotional Books (sports, adventure, moms, teenage girls, etc.)
- Biographies (heroes of the faith, Christian athletes, leaders or soldiers)
- Magazine subscriptions (World, Creation)
- Spiritual Growth (apologetics, leadership)
As you prepare for this Christmas season, remember these verses:
Train up a child in the way he should go, even when he is old he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22:6
This tradition gives you a great opportunity to speak specifically into the life and spiritual development of each child.
And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. Deuteronomy 6:6-7
Giving a special gift to encourage spiritual growth on Christmas Eve is a great way to speak into and each child’s life and live out Deuteronomy 6!
Spiritual leadership for your family means taking responsibility and initiative for the development of everyone in your family.
My challenge to you is to consider launching this tradition in your home and using this time to speak into each family member’s life. Don’t forget to get something special that will bless your wife on her journey AND make sure there’s a gift for you to open as well. Your family needs to know that your faith is still growing.
Here’s a bonus idea…
When each of our boys was in the 8th grade, I gave them a One-Year Chronological Bible for Christmas and bought one for myself. I’ve read through the entire Bible in Chronological order with each of my boys. We enjoyed encouraging and challenging each other as well as hearty discussions about our reading.
Doing something WITH your kids is even more impactful than encouraging them to go alone!
(BTW… Hannah will be in the 8th grade next year, guess what her Christmas Eve gift will be?)
Guys, remember, you have to take initiative to foster spiritual growth in your home.