ANNABELLE GRACE LEARNS ABOUT CHRISTMAS · 2019. 12. 6. · Annabelle Grace took a big bite from the still-warm cookie as she watched her mommy pull the next batch from the oven. They

ANNABELLE GRACE LEARNS ABOUT

CHRISTMASA Devotional Story for Young Children

Lexington Baptist ChurchChristmas 2019

A Note to Young Parents

How do parents reconcile the story of Jesus’ birth with the secular celebrations entrenched in the Christmas season? Most parents want their children to learn the true meaning of Christmas, but in a world captivated by twinkle lights and flying reindeer, they might be unsure how to go about it.

That’s not to say all parents think about Christmas the same way. Some parents, for instance, think the Christmas season is based more on myth than reality. Believing in Jesus’ divine birth is no different than believing presents are delivered on Christmas Eve by a bearded old guy in a red suit. The holiday for these parents is little more than the occasion for get-togethers with family, friends and co-workers along with a few gestures of generosity toward people in need.

Other parents hold the story of Jesus’ birth in higher regard. They think their children should be familiar with the biblical account even though they’ll probably outgrow it when they get older. That group can be called Christmas agnostics—they don’t exactly believe the story of Jesus’ birth but they don’t exactly disbelieve it either.

Then there are those parents who respond to Christmas celebrations from the opposite extreme. They so fear for the spiritual safety of their children that they allow for little or no holiday traditions. For them, idolatry can come into a home through a talking snowman as easily as a golden calf on a pagan altar.

And then there are the rest—and in my experience—the greatest number of parents. They’re trying their best to balance the cultural observances of the season with the spiritual truth beneath it. They wouldn’t dream of compromising their faith but don’t want to deny their children the innocent joys found in the secular traditions that are as hard to escape this time of year as Hallmark movies about finding true love. They may let their children sit on Santa’s lap at the mall and ask for Christmas gifts, but they also teach them the biblical account of Jesus’ birth. They know the difference between fact and fantasy (even if Hallmark doesn’t) and want their children to know it, too.

If that’s where you are, this devotional is for you. In this story, Annabelle Grace asks questions about everything. But it’s when she asks

about the practices and traditions peculiar to our American celebration of Christmas that her story gets interesting for young parents. Her questions open the door for her parents to teach the deeper meaning of the season.

On each of the seven days leading up to Christmas, Annabelle Grace asks a question about a holiday tradition. Her parents’ answers help explain the biblical truth beneath the tradition. The Bible readings that follow are from Luke 2:1-20 (from the International Children’s Bible) so that by the end of the story, your children will have read the entire story of Jesus’ birth. A suggested prayer based on the day’s theme concludes each devotional. The idea is for you and your children to read one story each day beginning December 18 and concluding December 24.

I hope your family has fun with Annabelle Grace’s story. More importantly, I hope it provides you as parents with a resource that can help teach your children the truth about Jesus’ birth.

Merry Christmas!

Pastor Mike Turner

Table of Contents

Day One Why is Christmas Special?

Day Two Why Do We Share with Others at Christmas?

Day Three Why Do We Decorate a Tree at Christmas?

Day Four Why Do We Exchange Presents at Christmas?

Day Five Why Do We Send Christmas Cards at Christmas?

Day Six Why Do We Sing Special Songs at Christmas?

Day Seven Why Do We Go to Church at Christmas?

Appendix Suggested Fun Activities that Correspond to Annabelle Grace’s Story

Day One

“Why is Christmas Special?”

Annabelle Grace took a big bite from the still-warm cookie as she watched her mommy

pull the next batch from the oven. They made cookies together every Christmas, and they were

full of the things that Annabelle Grace liked best: chocolate chips.

Annabelle Grace breathed in the warm chocolaty smell that hung in the kitchen.

Baking these cookies with her mommy was one of her favorite things about Christmas.

Eating them was pretty great, too.

“Mmmmm,” Annabelle Grace said. She shoved her long red hair behind her ear as she

leaned over her plate. She didn’t want to eat it along with her cookie. She didn’t think her hair

would taste good.

“This is dee-lish-oos,” she said. She moved her tongue around in the empty space where

her front tooth should be. She’d turned six years old just before Thanksgiving and lost her front

tooth the next day. She wasn’t sure whether she liked the empty space in her mouth.

“I’m glad you like it,” her mommy said. “When you’re done, why don’t you help your

brother decorate his cookies?” She set a tub of icing and a container of Christmas-colored

sprinkles on the table in front of Annabelle Grace and her little brother Ralphie.

Ralphie was three years younger and his cookie looked as large as his head.

“Too big,” he said to his cookie. He broke off a piece and tried to put it in his ear.

“Isn’t he funny?” Annabelle Grace’s mommy chuckled.

Annabelle Grace leaned over and took Ralphie’s hand in hers. “Silly, it goes in your

mouth not your ear.” Ralphie obediently opened his mouth and ate the cookie.

Annabelle Grace said, “Mommy, I like these cookies. They make me feel special.”

“Special cookies for my special kiddos,” her mommy replied with a smile. “And we only

make them at Christmas because Christmas is special, too.”

Annabelle Grace tilted her head a little as she thought.

“The cookies make our house smell special,” she said after a moment.

“That’s right,” her mommy said.

“The Christmas music playing on the radio makes our house sound special,” Annabelle

Grace said.

“That’s right.”

“The lights that daddy put up outside make our house look special.”

Before her mommy could reply, Ralphie jumped down from his chair and sat on the

floor. It was covered with green sprinkles that he dumped out of the container.

“Isn’t he sweet?” Annabelle Grace’s mommy said as she watched Ralphie. But there was

a crease between her eyebrows that made Annabelle Grace think Ralphie wasn’t being quite as

sweet as her mommy wanted him to be.

Ralphie scooped up the sprinkles and shoved them into his mouth.

Annabelle Grace hopped out of her chair and took Ralphie’s hand. “Not in your mouth,”

she said. “Those sprinkles have been on the floor.”

Ralphie spit them out. “Yuck!” he said.

“Yuck!” agreed Annabelle Grace.

Annabelle Grace helped Ralphie back into his chair then climbed into her own. “Why is

Christmas so special?” she asked, turning to her mommy.

Her mommy didn’t respond at first. She was staring at the mushed green sprinkles on the

floor. “I’ll just clean that up later,” she murmured before turning to Annabelle Grace with a

smile.

“Christmas is special for a lot of reasons, sweetie. It’s when we give presents to people

we love. It’s when we go visit our family. It’s when we decorate our house. We do things at

Christmas we don’t do any other time of year.”

“I like it when our family does those things,” Annabelle Grace said.

Her mommy leaned down and kissed the top of Annabelle Grace’s head.

“Do you know the most special thing of all about Christmas?” her mommy asked.

Annabelle Grace glanced at Ralphie as she tried to think of an answer. He was rubbing

his cookie between his hands until it became tiny little pieces that fell to the floor like dust.

Annabelle Grace wrinkled her nose.

Her mommy smiled at her then wrapped one arm around Annabelle Grace and one arm

around Ralphie. She leaned down so her face was between theirs.

“It’s when Jesus was born,” she said. “Jesus was God’s only Son. On Christmas long,

long ago, he was born as a baby because God wanted to come live here in the world with us.”

“Why did God want to do that?” Annabelle Grace asked.

“Because everyone in the world is special to God, and He loves everyone so much He

wanted to be with them,” her mommy said. She kissed Ralphie’s cheek and then Annabelle

Grace’s cheek.

“He loves Ralphie and daddy and me and you, Annabelle Grace.”

Annabelle Grace leaned close to her mommy. “That makes me feel special,” she said.

BIBLE READING

At that time, Augustus Caesar sent an order to all people in the countries that were under Roman rule. The order said that they must list their names in a register. This was the first registration taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. And everyone went to their own towns to be registered. So Joseph left Nazareth, a town in Galilee. He went to the town of Bethlehem in Judea. This town was known as the town of David. Joseph went there because he was from the family of David. Joseph registered with Mary because she was engaged to marry him. (Mary was now pregnant.) (Luke 2:1-5) PRAYER

Dear God, thank You for sending Your Son Jesus to be born at Christmas and showing us how special we are to You. We love You. Amen.

Day Two

“Why Do We Share with Others at Christmas?”

Annabelle Grace and her brother Ralphie were in the backyard kicking a soccer ball.

Her daddy walked out of the house. “Would you like to go with me on a special trip,

Annabelle Grace?” he asked.

Annabelle Grace loved to go places with her daddy. “Okay!” she said. “But what about

Ralphie?”

Ralphie had run to the swing set and was swinging on his stomach. Back and forth. Back

and forth. He held his arms out as far as he could reach and stretched his legs out behind him.

“Daddy, look! I’m flying! I’m a flying reindeer, daddy!”

Their daddy said, “Ralphie, if you’re a reindeer, where’s Santa Claus?”

“Santa’s behind me,” Ralphie replied.

Their daddy laughed. “Is that right?” He turned to Annabelle Grace and winked.

“Mommy can watch Ralphie while we take our trip,” he said. “Come on, let’s go.”

Annabelle Grace and her daddy got into the car. They fastened their seatbelts. Her daddy

cranked the car and they backed out of the driveway.

“Where are we going?” Annabelle Grace asked.

“We’re going to a place where we can share with others,” her daddy said.

“Why?” Annabelle Grace asked.

“Because they don’t have as much as we do.”

“Do they have a soccer ball like me and Ralphie?” Annabelle Grace asked.

Her daddy shook his head. “No, they don’t.”

“Do they have a house to live in?” Annabelle Grace asked.

Her daddy shook his head again. “Many of them don’t.”

Annabelle thought for a moment. “Do they have enough to eat?”

“Sometimes they don’t even have enough food to eat,” her daddy replied.

“That makes me feel sad,” Annabelle Grace said.

“It makes me sad, too,” her daddy said. “Christmas is when we can help them in a special

way.”

Annabelle Grace asked, “Can we share our food with them?”

Her daddy smiled. “Yes, we can. That’s what we’re going to do now.”

They turned past the corner house where Annabelle Grace’s friend Finley lived. They

drove past her school where she was in Mrs. Thompson’s first-grade class. They went by the

church where she went to Sunday School with her friends Lydia and Charlie and Benjamin.

Then her daddy drove to a part of town she’d never seen. There were big buildings and a

lot of cars. Finally they stopped at a building with a lot of people standing in a long line outside.

Annabelle Grace saw old people and young people. Tall people and small people. White

people. Black people. Brown people. A few mommies even had children with them.

Annabelle Grace asked, “Who are all the people?”

“They’re the people we’re going to help,” her daddy answered. “We’re going to serve

them Christmas dinner.”

Annabelle Grace said, “Yesterday Mommy told me and Ralphie that Christmas was

special. Is that why we came here today? To share special Christmas food with people?”

Her daddy unbuckled his seatbelt in silence and waited patiently while she undid hers.

Then he said, “I brought you here because I want you to learn the importance of helping other

people who are hungry, Annabelle Grace. And you’re right, today we’re going to serve a special

Christmas meal.”

Annabelle Grace and her daddy walked through the building and into the kitchen where a

lot of friendly people were hard at work cooking and serving food to the people from the line

outside.

There was ham. Mashed potatoes. Green Beans. And Annabelle Graces’ favorite food—

cookies. Everything smelled delicious.

Annabelle Grace helped serve along with everyone else. She served ham to old people

and young people. She served mashed potatoes to tall people and small people. She served green

beans to white people, black people and brown people. She served cookies to mommies and their

children.

She was happy when everyone finished their dinner. People were smiling and talking and

laughing. One old man patted his belly and hiccupped. It made her giggle.

Annabelle Grace and her daddy got back in the car to return home.

“That was fun,” she told her daddy. “It makes me feel good to share with people.”

“I’m glad,” her daddy said.

“Why do we share with people at Christmas?” Annabelle Grace asked.

“Because God loves everybody. And he wants us to love everybody, too. God shared

Jesus with everybody at Christmas and he wants us to share with everybody, too.”

“Especially if people don’t have enough to eat,” Annabelle Grace said.

“That’s right,” her daddy answered. “Jesus wants us to share with others. Christmas is

about sharing. Just like God shared his Son Jesus with us.”

BIBLE READING

While Joseph and Mary were in Bethlehem, the time came for her to have the baby. She gave birth to her first son. There were no rooms left in the inn. So she wrapped the baby with cloths and laid him in a box where animals are fed. (Luke 2:6-7)

PRAYER

Dear God, thank You for sharing Your Son Jesus with us at Christmas. Help us to share what we have with others like You shared with us. Amen.

Day Three

“Why Do We Decorate a Tree at Christmas?”

“Let’s go to the Christmas tree farm and pick out a special tree for our family,”

Annabelle Grace’s daddy announced at dinner.

Annabelle Grace dropped her fork on her plate. “Right now?” she asked. “We can go

right now to get our Christmas tree?”

Her mommy laughed as she scooted away from the table and stood. “Last one in the car

is a squishy tomato!”

Annabelle Grace and her brother Ralphie shrieked with excitement as they raced with

their mommy and daddy to the car.

When they got to the tree farm, they stared at all the trees. Christmas trees have their own

special smell. It made Annabelle Grace want to sing Christmas songs and twirl in the snow. She

didn’t think it would actually snow, but she hummed Jingle Bells as they walked up and down

the rows of trees.

Some trees were tall and skinny. Some were short and round. All were green and pretty.

After a few minutes, Annabelle Grace’s mommy stopped suddenly and looked around.

“Where’s Ralphie?”

“He was standing next to me,” her daddy replied. He frowned as he peered down the row.

“Where did he go?”

Annabelle Grace turned and looked toward the trees they’d already passed.

“There he is!” Annabelle Grace pointed toward her brother. He was trying to climb a tall

skinny Christmas tree by stepping from branch to branch and holding on with both hands.

Her mommy sighed. “Oh my gracious.”

Her daddy shook his head. “Annabelle Grace, let’s go rescue your brother.”

Annabelle Grace ran down the row of trees ahead of her daddy. When she got to the tree

Ralphie was climbing, she stopped, put her hands on her hips and looked up at him.

“Ralphie, you’re so silly,” she said. “Christmas trees aren’t for climbing. They’re for

decorating.” She stood on her tiptoes and tugged his foot. “Just stay there so daddy can help you

down, okay?”

After their daddy pulled Ralphie from the tree, they found their mommy and went to the

next row. Annabelle Grace’s daddy held tight to Ralphie’s hand so he couldn’t escape again.

Annabelle Grace stopped in front of a tree. It was perfect. “How about this one?”

Her mommy and daddy looked at the tree. It wasn’t too tall. It wasn’t too short. It wasn’t

too big or small.

“I think this tree will fit our house just right,” her mommy said. “Well done, Annabelle

Grace.”

After they got the tree home, Annabelle Grace’s daddy put it up in their living room. She

helped her daddy bring down the boxes of decorations from the attic.

Some boxes had white balls. Some boxes had red balls. Some boxes had small figures.

Some boxes had bright ribbons and some had long strings of colored lights.

Annabelle Grace and her mommy and her daddy and Ralphie all had fun opening the

boxes and pulling out the balls, figures, ribbons and lights. They hung them all over the tree.

The last decoration was a big star. Annabelle Grace’s daddy gave the star to Ralphie then

lifted him up so high he could touch the top of the tree.

“Put the star on top of the tree, Ralphie,” their daddy said. Ralphie placed the star on the

highest branch and their daddy put him back on the floor.

Annabelle Grace’s mommy turned on the Christmas tree lights. They made the tree

sparkle from top to bottom.

“Oooh!” Annabelle Grace exclaimed. “It’s so pretty!”

“It is, isn’t it?” Her mommy smiled.

“I want to climb it!” Ralphie announced.

Their daddy scooped him up before he could try and sat him on the couch. Annabelle

Grace and her mommy sat next to them. They looked at the tree in silence for a little while. It

made Annabelle Grace feel cozy.

“Mommy, why do we decorate a tree at Christmas?” Annabelle Grace asked.

“Well, a Christmas tree is something fun that a lot of people decorate at Christmas,” her

mommy answered. “Some of the things we put on it are because they’re cute or make us smile.

But other things help remind us about the real reason we celebrate Christmas.”

“Like the big star on top?” Annabelle Grace asked. “It’s like the big star that was over the

manger where Jesus was born.”

Her mommy smiled. “Exactly. And some of the other things we put on the tree remind us

of Jesus’ birth, too.” She pulled an ornament off a branch. It was a small manger scene with a

little cow and a little donkey and a little baby Jesus.

Annabelle Grace’s mommy said, “This helps us remember where Jesus was born.”

Annabelle Grace pointed at the manger in which Jesus lay. “We learned about the manger

in Sunday School. Jesus wasn’t born in a hospital like Ralphie and me but in a barn where

animals lived.”

“That’s right, sweetie,” her mommy said. “Can you imagine sleeping with all those

animals?”

Annabelle Grace wrinkled her nose. “It must have smelled really bad.”

Her mommy and daddy chuckled. Annabelle Grace and Ralphie snuggled in closer to

their parents. Ralphie’s eyes started to close. Annabelle Grace felt sleepy, too. But she was too

happy to go to sleep yet.

“I like talking about Jesus when our family is together,” she said.

Her mommy said, “I like it, too. So does your daddy. Every year when we decorate the

Christmas tree together and talk about Jesus together, it makes us all happy.”

Annabelle Grace said, “It makes Jesus happy, too!”

BIBLE READING

That night, some shepherds were in the fields nearby watching their sheep. An angel of the Lord stood before them. The glory of the Lord was shining around them, and suddenly they became very frightened. The angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid, because I am bringing you some good news. It will be a joy to all the people. Today your Savior was born in David’s town. He is Christ, the Lord. (Luke 2:8-11)

PRAYER

Dear God, thank You for giving us so many pretty ways to remember that Your Son Jesus was born at Christmas. Amen.

Day Four

“Why Do We Exchange Presents at Christmas?”

Ding dong!

“Mommy!” Annabelle Grace shouted from the living room. “Someone’s ringing our door

bell.”

Her mommy hurried from the kitchen to the front door. Ralphie scurried behind her.

“Santa’s here!” he yelled.

Annabelle Grace’s daddy stood from the couch and peered toward the door. “I wonder if

it’s someone special. Annabelle Grace, didn’t I tell you someone was coming to see you and

Ralphie at Christmas?”

Annabelle Grace smiled a big smile and hopped off the couch. “It’s Ma Ma! She’s here to

bring us Christmas presents!”

Ma Ma was Annabelle Grace’s grandmother. She visited every Christmas and brought

presents for Annabelle Grace and Ralphie.

Last Christmas Ma Ma gave Annabelle Grace an Elsa princess dress from Frozen.

Annabelle Grace loved it.

Last Christmas Ma Ma gave Ralphie a box of Ocean Creature Legos. Ralphie put a shark

on one side of the room. He put an octopus on the other side of the room. He put all the rest in

between. Annabelle Grace’s daddy walked through the room and stepped on a crab and hurt his

foot. He made Ralphie put the Legos back in the box. He said Ralphie could play with them

when he was older.

Annabelle Grace’s daddy winked at her. “Well? Aren’t you going to say hello?”

Annabelle Grace ran as fast as she could to the door. Ralphie turned to her. “Not Santa,”

he whispered.

She wiggled past her mommy and Ralphie. There was her Ma Ma!

Ma Ma knelt down and hugged Annabelle Grace tight. “Merry Christmas, Annabelle

Grace,” she said. “I’ve brought Christmas presents for you and Ralphie.”

Annabelle Grace stepped back and saw two green bags with red bows beside Ma Ma.

“What did you bring us?” Annabelle Grace asked.

Her Ma Ma said, “You’ll have to wait and see.”

Annabelle Grace took her Ma Ma by the hand and led her into the living room. Her

mommy and Ralphie followed. Annabelle Grace carried one of the pretty bags and her Ma Ma

carried the other.

“Can we open our presents now?” Ralphie asked. He hopped onto the couch and looked

eagerly at their mommy. Ma Ma sat next to him and ruffled his hair. Annabelle Grace sat on her

other side.

“Let’s give Ma Ma her present first,” their mommy said. “Then you and Annabelle Grace

can open your presents.”

Their mommy gave Ma Ma a small box wrapped in gold paper. Annabelle Grace had

picked it out all by herself and she waited anxiously to see if her Ma Ma would like it. Ma Ma

opened the box and pulled out a pretty gold bracelet with two small charms, one to remind her of

Annabelle Grace and one to remind her of Ralphie.

“How beautiful!” Annabelle Grace’s Ma Ma said. “Every time I wear it I’ll think of you

and Ralphie!”

Annabelle Grace’s face lit up. “I’m happy when you give me a Christmas present. But it

makes me happy to give you a present, too.”

Ma Ma patted Annabelle Grace’s cheek. “Do you know why we exchange presents at

Christmas?”

“Because it makes us happy,” Annabelle Grace replied.

Ma Ma nodded. “That’s right. Giving other people gifts at Christmas brings everyone

joy.”

Annabelle Grace said, “I like to make other people happy.”

“Yes, you do, Annabelle Grace.” Ma Ma smiled. “God likes to make us happy, too. He

was happy at the very first Christmas when He gave the best present of all. He gave us Jesus.”

Ralphie considered this for a moment. “Did Jesus’ mommy unwhap him?”

Ma Ma laughed. She hugged Ralphie and said, “No, Jesus wasn’t wrapped like our

presents. He was born like all other babies. He was also the best present ever given because He

shows us how much God loves us.”

“I want to give God a present,” Annabelle Grace said. She tapped her chin as she thought

about what to get God. “What do you think I could get Him?”

“You can give Him your heart and show Him how much you love Him,” Ma Ma

answered.

“Do you know how happy you feel when someone opens a present you give them—like

you just felt when Ma Ma opened your present?” Annabelle Grace’s daddy asked.

Annabelle Grace nodded. “I was happy because Ma Ma was happy.”

“God feels just as happy when you ask Jesus to live in your heart.”

“Can I open my present from Ma Ma now?” Ralphie interrupted.

Annabelle Grace’s Ma Ma gave Ralphie the bag with his Christmas present. He reached

down into it and brought out a new box of Super Hero Legos.

“Wow!” Ralphie said.

“Oh no,” Annabelle Grace’s daddy sighed.

Ma Ma gave Annabelle Grace the bag with her Christmas present. She pulled out Anna’s

princess dress from Frozen.

Annabelle Grace shrieked. “Now I can be Elsa one day and Anna the next!”

BIBLE READING

“This is how you will know him: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a feeding box.” (Luke 2:12) PRAYER Dear God, You gave us Your Son Jesus at Christmas. Help us to give our hearts to You in return. Amen.

Day Five

“Why Do We Send Christmas Cards at Christmas?”

“This is dee-lish-oos,” Annabelle Grace said as she pulled her grilled cheese sandwich

apart and slurped the long, gooey strings of cheese.

She and her mommy and her daddy and her brother Ralphie were eating lunch. Her

mommy had fixed grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup.

Annabelle Grace’s mommy looked out the window and saw the mailman in his blue

truck. He always waved at their house when he came by.

“Dear,” Annabelle Grace’s mommy said to her daddy, “Will you go to the mailbox and

get our mail? I bet we get some Christmas cards today.”

“What are Christmas cards?” Annabelle Grace asked.

“Special cards that people send each other at Christmas,” her mommy answered. “People

we love send us their cards. And we send our cards to them, too.”

Annabelle Grace’s daddy got up from the table and turned to Ralphie. “Want to go to the

mailbox with me kiddo?”

Ralphie hopped down from the table and hurried to the door. “Chrisammy cards!” he

shouted. “Bye mommy! Bye Ammabelley!”

Annabelle Grace kept eating her sandwich and watched through the window as her daddy

and Ralphie walked to the mailbox. Her daddy opened the mailbox and pulled out some

envelopes. But instead of coming back to the house, he leaned down and said something to

Ralphie.

Annabelle Grace’s mommy peered through the window. “What’s your daddy saying?”

Annabelle Grace’s daddy picked up Ralphie and put him on top of the mailbox.

“What’s your daddy doing?” Annabelle Grace’s mommy asked.

Annabelle Grace’s daddy stepped back from the mailbox, leaving Ralphie perched on top

of it.

“Is your daddy crazy?” Annabelle Grace’s mommy asked.

Ralphie’s legs clung to the sides of the mailbox. He waved his arms in the air. He

bounced up and down like he was riding a horse. He laughed so loud that Annabelle Grace and

her mommy could hear him through the window.

Annabelle Grace’s mommy said, “Oh my gracious!”

Annabelle Grace said, “Don’t worry, mommy. Daddy won’t let him fall.”

When Annabelle Grace’s daddy brought Ralphie back into the house at last, he put the

mail on the table. There were green envelopes and red envelopes and one that was white with a

manger scene drawn on the back.

Annabelle Graces’ mommy opened the first envelope. “This one is from your Uncle Les

and his family,” she said.

She pulled a card from the envelope and showed it to Annabelle Grace. On the card was

printed a picture of Annabelle Grace’s Uncle Les, his wife Laura and their daughters Liza and

Lindy. They sat in front of a fireplace with their big red dog Melody lying on the floor in front.

They all looked happy.

“Uncle Les and Aunt Laura sent you and Ralphie a special note with their picture,”

Annabelle Grace’s mommy said. “Would you like me to read it to you?”

“Oh, yes!” Annabelle Grace answered.

“Read it!” Ralphie said.

“It says, ‘Dear Annabelle Grace and Ralphie, we love you very much and pray that you

and your family have a wonderful Christmas.’”

“I love Uncle Les and Aunt Laura and Liza and Lindy,” Annabelle Grace said. “Are there

any more Christmas cards?”

Her mommy picked up the white Christmas envelope with a manger scene on the back.

“This one is from Mr. Josh, one of your Sunday School teachers at church,” she said as she

opened the envelope.

The card inside had a pretty picture of baby Jesus lying in a manger. Shepherds and sheep

and donkeys stood around him.

“Mr. Josh wrote you a special note in his Christmas card, Annabelle Grace,” her mommy

said. “His note says, ‘Dear Annabelle Grace, I’m proud of you because you love Jesus so much. I

hope you have a wonderful Christmas.’”

“I love getting Christmas cards,” Annabelle Grace announced. She took the card from her

mommy so she could look closer at the animals.

“Christmas cards are special to everybody,” her mommy said. “They help us remember

that we’re not by ourselves at Christmas. Every Christmas card we get tells us that someone

loves us. And every Christmas card we send tells someone that we love them.”

Annabelle Grace traced the picture of baby Jesus with her finger. “Mommy,” she asked,

“Is Jesus like God’s Christmas card to us?”

“What do you mean, sweetie?” her mommy asked.

“When Jesus was born, that was God telling us He loves us and we don’t have to be by

ourselves anymore,” Annabelle Grace replied.

Annabelle Grace’s mommy smiled. “Yes, Jesus is God’s Christmas card to us.”

BIBLE READING

Then a very large group of angels from heaven joined the first angel. All the angels were praising God, saying: “Give glory to God in heaven, and on earth let there be peace to the people who please God.” Then the angels left the shepherds and went back to heaven. The shepherds said to each other, “Let us go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened. We will see this thing the Lord told us about.” (Luke 2:13-15)

PRAYER

Dear God, You sent Your Son Jesus at Christmas to show us how much You love us. We love You, too. Amen.

Day Six

“Why Do We Sing Special Songs at Christmas?

Annabelle Grace sat beside her mommy on the couch coloring a manger scene in her

Christmas coloring book while her mommy read a book. Annabelle Grace colored the sheep

white. She colored the donkey grey. The star above the stable was yellow. Baby Jesus was bright

pink in the brown manger.

They heard a sound outside their front door. It reminded Annabelle Grace of the time she

walked past the choir room at church and heard the people warming up their voices before they

sang. Like a swarm of bees.

“What’s that noise?” she asked her mommy.

Her mommy set her book beside her on the couch and tilted her head to listen. After a

moment, she smiled. “I think someone’s about to sing to us.” She grabbed Annabelle Grace’s

hand. “Let’s go see.”

Annabelle Grace and her mommy went to the front door and peered through the glass.

People stood in a group on their sidewalk. There were old people and young people. Tall

people and short people. Mommies and daddies and their children. They all looked happy.

“How fun!” her mommy exclaimed as she opened the door.

Annabelle Grace and her mommy stood together in the doorway and looked out at the

group of people. When Annabelle Grace saw her friends Finley and Lydia and Benjamin and

Charlie, her eyes grew wide with excitement.

“Mommy!” Annabelle Grace said. “Look! Finley and Lydia and Benjamin and Charlie!

Can they come inside?”

Her mommy smiled down at her. “I don’t think they’re here to visit, sweetie. Listen.”

Just then, the group of people began to sing a song about Christmas.

We wish you a Merry Christmas, we wish you a Merry Christmas

We wish you a Merry Christmas, and a happy new year.

Now bring us some figgy pudding, now bring us some figgy pudding

Now bring us some figgy pudding, and bring it right here.

“What’s figgy pudding?” Annabelle Grace whispered to her mommy.

“Nobody knows,” her mommy said. She pulled Annabelle Grace close against her. The

stars were bright and the moon hung just behind the people, shining down on them like a

spotlight.

The song ended and the group began another one.

Joy to the world, the Lord is come. Let earth receive her King.

Let every heart prepare Him room

And Heaven and nature sing, And Heaven and nature sing

And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing.

“That’s my favorite song,” Annabelle Grace’s mommy whispered.

“I remember singing it in church,” Annabelle Grace said without taking her eyes off the

singers. They seemed like they were having so much fun.

Then the group sang their last song. Annabelle and her mommy knew the song and sang

along with them.

Silent night. Holy night. All is calm, all is bright.

Round yon Virgin, Mother and Child

Holy infant so tender and mild.

Sleep in heavenly peace, sleep in heavenly peace.

When the group finished singing, Finley and Lydia and Charlie and Benjamin waved

goodbye and called out “Merry Christmas, Annabelle Grace!”

“Merry Christmas!” Annabelle Grace waved goodbye, too.

Her mommy closed the door and the two of them walked back to the couch and sat down.

“That was so much fun,” Annabelle Grace said. “I love Christmas songs.”

“It makes Jesus happy when we sing about Him,” her mommy agreed. “The songs we

sing about Him at Christmas are called Christmas carols and the people who sing them like you

heard tonight are carolers.”

“Carolers walk around to lots of houses and sing to people all night?” Annabelle Grace

asked.

“That’s right.” Her mommy leaned back and pulled a blanket across them. Annabelle

Grace snuggled against her.

“They seemed so happy to sing to us,” Annabelle Grace said. “It made me happy to listen

to them, too.”

Her mommy kissed the top of Annabelle Grace’s head. “Maybe we can go with them

next year.”

Annabelle Grace reached for her coloring book and looked at the picture of baby Jesus.

“I’d like to do that,” she said. “I could walk with Finley and Lydia and Benjamin and Charlie and

sing to people about Jesus.”

Annabelle Grace’s mother nodded. “Maybe we can even take Ralphie with us.”

Annabelle Grace wrinkled her nose. “He might run away. And it’d be too dark to find

him.” She picked up a crayon and began coloring the camel that stood outside the stable where

baby Jesus lay. “And he might accidentally say ‘trick or treat’ instead of ‘merry Christmas,’”

she added. “That would just make people confused.”

Her mommy laughed. “You’re probably right.”

BIBLE READING

So the shepherds went quickly and found Mary and Joseph. And the shepherds saw the baby lying in a feeding box. Then they told what the angels had said about this child. (Luke 2:16-17)

PRAYER

Dear God, all the songs we sing at Christmas are to thank You for Jesus. Help us always to have happy hearts for You. Amen.

Day Seven

“Why Do We Go to Church at Christmas?

Annabelle Grace and her little brother Ralphie stood in front of their Christmas tree. It

was Christmas Eve at last. Annabelle Grace had been waiting for this night for what seemed like

forever. She looked at the sparkly lights and little red balls she helped hang on the tree.

“It’s such a pretty tree,” she sighed.

Ralphie pointed up to the big star he helped put on top of the tree. “My tree!” he

announced. He said the same thing every time he walked past it.

“Silly Ralphie.” Annabelle Grace shook her head. “It’s not your tree. It’s our tree, our

whole family’s. And tomorrow is Christmas morning! When we wake up, there will be lots of

presents under it for all of us.”

“Will there be toys?” Ralphie asked.

“I think so,” Annabelle Grace answered.

“Will there be books?”

“I’m sure there will be books.”

“Candy?” Ralphie asked.

“I hope so,” Annabelle Grace answered. She and Ralphie loved candy, especially peanut

butter cups.

Ralphie laughed and ran around the tree. “It’s Christmas!” he shouted over and over.

Their daddy walked into the room. “You kiddos look ready for Christmas tomorrow

morning,” he said. “But first we get to do something tonight that will make us happy.”

“What?” Annabelle Grace asked.

Her daddy smiled and knelt beside Annabelle Grace. He reached out and caught Ralphie

as he ran past. Then he pulled Annabelle Grace and Ralphie close.

“The most important part of Christmas isn’t the presents we get,” he said. “It’s that we

get to tell Jesus how much we love him. Christmas is his birthday, remember? We want to

always make sure that we think about Jesus more than we think about presents.”

Annabelle Grace leaned on her daddy’s shoulder. “How do we tell Jesus we love him?”

“We go to church,” her daddy answered. “That’s where we’re going right now. We’ll

sing songs to Jesus. We’ll read the Bible story of how Jesus was born. And then we’ll hold

candles and remember Jesus’ birthday.”

“I hold my own candle?” Ralphie asked. He hopped up and down with excitement.

Their daddy shook his head. “Maybe next year, kiddo. You can just watch this year.”

Annabelle Grace’s mommy walked into the room carrying coats for her and Ralphie. “Put

your coats on. It’s cold outside.”

Annabelle Grace and Ralphie put on their coats and followed their mommy and daddy to

the car.

When they arrived at church, Annabelle Grace and her family joined the crowd of people

walking inside. Annabelle Grace thought everyone looked so happy.

“I like going to church at Christmas,” she said.

The first thing Annabelle Grace saw when she walked inside were the decorations. Big

red bows hung on the walls. Sparkly Christmas trees stood in front. A few candles burned on a

special stand to one side.

“The church is so pretty!” Annabelle Grace told her mommy.

The second thing Annabelle Grace saw was a small candle a kind lady gave her and her

mommy and daddy. Ralphie tried to grab one, too, but their mommy grabbed his hand and held

on tight.

“Not this year,” their mommy reminded him.

The third thing she saw was her friends Finley and Lydia and Charlie and Benjamin

sitting together on one side of the church. They waved to Annabelle Grace. She waved back.

“Can we sit with my friends?” Annabelle Grace asked her mommy.

“Sure, sweetie,” her mommy answered.

When everyone stood and started to sing Christmas songs, Annabelle Grace smiled. It

was wonderful to sing with so many people. The sanctuary was dim and the lights on the

Christmas trees sparkled.

Later, a smiling man and his wife invited all the children to walk to the front of the

church to hear a special Christmas talk.

“Can I go listen?” Annabelle Grace asked.

“Yes, you can,” her mommy said. “Take your brother with you.”

Annabelle Grace took Ralphie by the hand and walked with Finley and Lydia and

Benjamin and Charlie to the front of the church. They sat with all the other children to hear a

special Christmas story.

The happy man and his wife talked about Jesus being born in Bethlehem and how God

loved everyone so much. At the end of his talk, he prayed a special prayer.

“Dear God,” he said, “Bless all children on Christmas. Help them know that as happy as

they are to get presents at Christmas, the best thing of all is to love Jesus at Christmas. Amen.”

When Annabelle and Ralphie and her friends went back to their seats, her daddy leaned

over to her and said, “Now comes the best part.”

“Is this when we get to light our candles?” Annabelle Grace asked.

“Yes,” her daddy said.

Annabelle Grace held her breath. All the lights went off and the only thing she could see

was a small circle of candles in the front. Someone started singing Annabelle Grace’s favorite

Christmas song, only with words she hadn’t heard before:

Silent night, holy night, Son of God, love’s pure light

Radiant beams from Thy holy face, with the dawn of redeeming grace

Jesus, Lord at Thy birth. Jesus, Lord at Thy birth.

As everyone sang the song, they helped each other light their candles, starting with those

near the front. Each row of people turned and helped the people behind them light their candles.

The church grew brighter and brighter as more and more people lit their candles.

“Wow!” Annabelle Grace said as the church filled up with light.

Finally, it was Annabelle Grace’s turn to light her candle. Her daddy held his burning

candle low enough for Annabelle Grace to light hers. When the candle she held touched the

candle he held, her own began to burn.

Annabelle Grace stood with her mommy and her daddy and Ralphie. She stood close to

Ralphie and held her candle between them. She didn’t want him to feel left out. They held their

candles high in the air and sang. Everyone around them sang, too.

Annabelle Grace pulled on her mommy’s sleeve. When her mommy leaned down,

Annabelle Grace whispered in her ear, “It makes me so happy to go to church on Christmas.”

Annabelle Grace’s mommy hugged her tight. “Christmas is Jesus’ birthday,” she said.

“Jesus is happy when we tell him we love him on Christmas.”

BIBLE READING

Everyone was amazed when they heard what the shepherds said to them. Mary hid these things in her heart; she continued to think about them. Then the shepherds went back to their sheep, praising God and thanking him for everything that they had seen and heard. It was just as the angel had told them. (Luke 2:18-20)

PRAYER

Dear God, we love You and thank You for Christmas. Happy birthday Jesus! Amen.

Day One

Make chocolate chip cookies with frosting and Christmas sprinkles like Annabelle Grace and her mommy made.

Show others God’s love for them by sharing some of your cookies. Take some to your neighbors, friends or family. You may even know someone in the hospital or a nursing home who might

enjoy them. Attach a card that says, “Jesus loves you!”

Day Two

Christmas is a time to share and help others. There are shelters and food banks across communities where families can serve together.

• Streetside Ministry provides an opportunity for families to help serve dinner to the homeless at Church of the Apostles in downtown Columbia each Monday night. Lexington Baptist Church hosts every fifth Monday. See dates below.

o December 30, 2019 o March 30, 2020 o June 29, 2020 o August 31, 2020 o November 30, 2020

• Families of Hope is a resource center that services families in Lexington and Richland counties who are currently fostering or have recently adopted children. On Saturdays, volunteers can help sort donations, do light cleaning and help families in need.

For more information on Streetside Ministry and Families of Hope, contact the Missions Office at Lexington Baptist Church: (803) 359-4146.

Day Three

Christmas Tree Decoration

Create a Christmas handprint ornament of Baby Jesus with your child’s handprint as the manger.

• Cut out a heart shape from card stock. Have your child paint the heart with a small paint brush or cotton ball.

• While it’s drying, cut a circle out for the head and draw in the face. • Cut out a star. • Next, stamp your child’s handprint (acrylic paint works well) in the center of the

heart. This is the manger. • Once it’s dry, glue the raffia on top of the handprint. Then, add the baby’s head and

the body (use cotton ball, construction paper or a piece of cloth for the body section). • Write Luke 2:12 somewhere on the heart. Stickers and glitter could be added around

the heart.

This craft can be found online at: https://mydancingrain.wordpress.co

m/s=christmas+hand+print&submit=Go

Day Four

The joy of giving!

• Play Secret Santa. As a family, secretly leave a Christmas treat or small gift at another family’s front door. Place the gift on the front porch with a card that shares God’s love (you could write out your favorite Bible verse), ring the doorbell and run! Don’t get caught and have fun!

• Hang a stocking for Jesus and place it next to your family’s stockings. When someone in your family does something nice or is helpful to someone, write it on a piece of paper and put it inside the Jesus stocking. On Christmas Day, read the notes out loud.

• Give the gift of hospitality by inviting a widow/widower over for dinner.

• Leave a special Christmas treat for your mail deliverer in your mailbox or on the front porch for those who deliver packages with a note that says: “Thank you for all you do!”

Day Five

Have fun making Christmas cards that celebrate the birth of Jesus and let others know how special they are.

• Make cards for family, friends, neighbors, school and Sunday School teachers, and your pastor.

• Make cards for the boys and girls in the hospital and pray for them. You may want to add some small gifts or balloons, but check with your local hospital on specific rules and guidelines for what is permissible and where to drop the items off to be distributed.

• Make cards and cookies and deliver them to your local fire station and police station on Christmas Day.

• Make cards for military personnel overseas.

• In the new year, gather all your Christmas cards and put them in a basket on your kitchen table. Before each meal, pull out one of the Christmas cards you received and pray for that family.

Day Six

Celebrating Christmas with your family is something to look forward to each year as you participate in your own special family traditions.

• Start a tradition of buying one new family game each holiday season. Enjoy playing the game and spending time together.

• Have a family indoor camp out/slumber party by the Christmas tree. Read Christmas stories and watch your family’s favorite Christmas movie while eating popcorn and drinking hot chocolate.

• Make a birthday cake for Jesus and sing Happy Birthday to Him on Christmas Day!

Day Seven

We go to church at Christmas so we can worship the One who gave us the greatest gift of all, Jesus! Invite someone to come to church with you so they can hear about God and how much

He loves them and wants to be with them.