My sister was always the one who would jump out of bed in the dark early morning on Christmas day to wake the rest of us to open presents. She’s always been a morning person, my twin in appearance and voice and style but in this? We couldn’t be more different. We would wait impatiently for coffee to brew, the smell pleasant and welcoming even in my childhood. Gifts sorted in piles, each with their own special wrapping paper to help the gift-giver remember which present went to which child, the fireplace crackling, Mannheim Steamroller playing softly in the background, anticipation building.
Not a perfect childhood, but a loved one. Not an elaborate morning, but one that has engrained itself deep into my heart. Family, together. Laughing and showing gratitude and thinking of one another, paying attention to likes and dislikes and getting it right most of the time. And learning how to respond in grace when we got it wrong or were disappointed by unmet expectations (oh there were tears. And lessons still being learned on this one.)
There is something more I want to build into my own family’s traditions around Christmas. I want the smells of welcoming coffee and images of twinkling lights to root themselves into our hearts, but more than that, I want the reason we celebrate – the one, unforgettable, unimaginable, preciously perfect reason – to be the legacy we pass down. When my daughter is grown and her own children are stumbling bleary-eyed and excited out into the living room to see what Christmas holds, I want her to share the greatest gift first, because that’s what she remembers from our home.
The greatest gift – God’s only son, sent for us. The reason that lives beyond torn wrapping paper and glittering bows. The “who” behind it all. I want to start now, when this love for Jesus is so beautifully present in my toddler’s heart. I want to start now, knowing it’s never too late to insert some child-like joy into the season, no matter how old we are or what we grew up doing each year. So this year we’ll do our best to be intentional about our time together – and while we make cookies and listen to Christmas music and watch movies, we’ll read about the greatest gift we’ve ever received.
We’ll read and sing and touch the ornaments and hang them on the tree in celebration and remembrance and legacy. And when my little girl is grown, maybe she’ll take them with her when she starts her family, and they’ll do the same. Over coffee and snuggles, under the twinkling lights.
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If you would like to start your own tradition and celebration of the greatest gift, we have just what you need to get started! Pick up a copy of Ann Voskamp’s “The Greatest Gift: Unwrapping the Full Love Story of Christmas,” or her newest release, “Unwrapping the Greatest Gift: A Family Celebration of Christmas,” along with a set of brand new The Greatest Gift ornaments (available in both paper and a beautiful legacy set made of sculpted resin).
Start a new tradition with family, or if you’re looking to do something this holiday season with friends, purchase a copy of “The Greatest Gift 4 Session Group Study DVD” and invite some sweet sisters into your home this year. Read together, drink hot chocolate, take turns hanging the ornaments, share stories and celebrate together.
We’d love to know: How would you celebrate with these beautiful new ornaments? How would you incorporate them into your Christmas traditions?
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What a great idea. I like the idea of basing Christmas gift off of celebrating what you already have. I personally like writing letters.
I sit down and think of why the person is meaningful to me. I think of an instance where they went out of their way to help me. I think of how our relationship has grown over the years. I add some inside jokes.
And I’m all set!
I like the ornaments. Great gifts to consider in advance of the Holiday season 🙂
What a great idea. I like the idea of basing Christmas gift off of celebrating what you already have. I personally like writing letters.
I sit down and think of why the person is meaningful to me. I think of an instance where they went out of their way to help me. I think of how our relationship has grown over the years. I add some inside jokes.
And I’m all set!
I like the ornaments. Great gifts to consider in advance of the Holiday season 🙂
I’m weary of posts that end in an advertisement to buy something. We need to be reading the Bible and not books about reading the Bible. JHMO
I read Ann’s book last year and enjoyed it! The ornaments are lovely – if I had them I would probably give them to my daughter for her tree as she builds on legacy and family traditions for her own family!
Thank you for sharing, Crystal! Such a lovely reminder.
Are the ornaments available & for sale? This year our group is giving a homeless shelter ornaments for their tree.
These would be a great addition to any tree or to tie on to a gift.
Articles written by so many different writers are such a blessing & help me learn to apply Biblical principles in my life.
Thank you!
I left out one letter in my name…it is Schiemann.
Love that idea Winifred! And yes, the ornaments are available on dayspring.com (you can either click the links above in the post or head here for the paper ornaments: http://www.dayspring.com/ann_voskamp_the_greatest_gift_paper_ornament_set/ or here for the resin set: http://www.dayspring.com/ann_voskamp_the_greatest_gift_sculpted_ornament_set/) – Be sure to check out Ann’s post on the main page of the blog from yesterday, too – she has links to all kinds of free printables, gift tags, and more that might be great to use, too!
Are the ornaments available & for sale? This year our group is giving a homeless shelter ornaments for their tree.
These would be a great addition to any tree or to tie on to a gift.
Articles written by so many different writers are such a blessing & help me learn to apply Biblical principles in my life.
Thank you!
Love that idea Winifred! And yes, the ornaments are available on dayspring.com (you can either click the links above in the post or head here for the paper ornaments: http://www.dayspring.com/ann_voskamp_the_greatest_gift_paper_ornament_set/ or here for the resin set: http://www.dayspring.com/ann_voskamp_the_greatest_gift_sculpted_ornament_set/) – Be sure to check out Ann’s post on the main page of the blog from yesterday, too – she has links to all kinds of free printables, gift tags, and more that might be great to use, too!
This is beautiful as always Crystal! I love the new ornaments as well, i wish I could afford them this year but hopefully they will be around for a long time and can be put into the budget for next year! I absolutely love how each one focuses on the coming of the Christ-Child being present and being THE PRESENT that our hearts and trees should hold.
I love the idea of basing gifts on the WHO & WHY of Christmas. I would love to give them to a homeless shelter or Ronald McDonald House to use on their trees to bless others and make it known WHY we celebrate Christmas!