A NIGHT TO REMEMBER â—½ HOME
It’s good to reflect on things, with our family, with the kids, after something like a holiday or an event. So why not reflect on Christmas, since it just occurred. Maybe your Christmas was picture-perfect. Or maybe it wasn’t. But talking about events and feelings and God’s goodness or silence…is a good thing to do as a family, once in a while…with a lot of joy thrown in.
​
Preparation: You will need several slices of bread for this devo, along with some peanut butter and perhaps some chocolate chips!
​
This lesson will be fun as you gather around a table and take one piece of bread and another, stacking them and turning them until you have a little tower tree of reflection. Have a bowl of peanut butter (or other spread) and some mini chocolate chips for taking down the tree and enjoying every bite at the end of the lesson. Or…spread peanut butter as you go and adorn with the chips!
​
Psalm 69:30 says,
​
Then I will praise God’s name with singing,
and I will honor him with thanksgiving.
-
What was your favorite thing about Christmas? (let everyone answer) – It’s so good to give thanks when we’ve had some favorite moments, and to acknowledge that all good things in life come from our Father’s hands. (Hold hands and bow heads, asking one person to lead out in thanksgiving.)
-
What was the hardest part of the holiday season we just had? (Let everyone answer, i.e. didn’t get what I wanted, a loved one was missing, we were sick, etc.) Did the hard parts ruin the good parts? How did you feel in the hard part of the season?
-
What was your favorite Christmas song you heard during the holidays? (Let everyone answer). It wouldn’t hurt to hear them all year long if we want. Good cheer, good music – it can always be enjoyed – not just at Christmas. Play one of the songs and all close eyes and listen…
-
Which food that we enjoyed was the best? (Share). We don’t all enjoy and love the exact same food, and that’s what makes us a family. You like one thing, I like another, but it makes for a good meal.
-
What was the favorite thing you did over the holidays? (Answer, i.e. visit grandparents, go to a show, see the lights, etc.) Could we do some of those things all year, or just at Christmas?
-
Are you sad that Christmas is over? (Let everyone answer). It’s okay to feel a bit sad when it’s all over, or even a bit glad, if Christmas time was hard. God knows how we feel, and he is with us either way.
-
What are you looking forward to this year? (Share). Maybe some won’t know what to say, so help them…i.e. new family events, trying out for a team, getting a puppy, decorating a room, playing with new toys.
Look at our tower of reflection, the bread we have received from the Father’s hand. Every good gift, every difficult circumstance, every thought of His goodness is a tower of thanksgiving that we should build all year long. Giving thanks in all things is something we are told to do, if we love God. And giving thanks when we remember Him and his goodness makes for a good year ahead.
​
Take the bread, spread and sprinkle, and enjoy every bite!