“If someone walked into your home this Christmas season, would they know by your decorations that you were celebrating the birth of your Savior, Jesus Christ?” Many years ago, this was a question asked of the congregation by our pastor. Upon hearing this statement, our whole perspective on Christmas decorating changed. “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him” (Colossians 3:17).
Prior to this, our Christmas decorating reflected what we thought looked nice and Christmassy. No thought was given to the importance of visibly making Christ’s birth the central theme of our decorations. The nativity was a part of our Christmas decorating. However, our decorations were also menagerie of items that had been given to us through the years. Snowmen, reindeer, and stockings were sometimes themes of these decorations. “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things” (Philippians 4:8). This verse was good encouragement for us in leaving behind the worldly trappings of Christmas decorating.
DECORATIONS THAT FOCUS ON JESUS
That question challenged us to reevaluate the Christmas decorations we put up. Was the birth of Jesus evident, even at a casual glance? Would someone else, who didn’t know us, be able to see that we worship Jesus Christ? Would they know He was preeminent in our hearts and home? We realized a guest would observe some evidence of Christ since we had a very nice nativity set. However, the whole feeling of our Christmas decorating was closer to what the world thinks of when they think of Christmas than it was a celebration of the birth of Christ. We began purging our decorations to eliminate the ones we did not feel fit with the emphasis we wanted to have—celebrating the birth of Jesus.
The weeding-out part was easy except when there was sentimental attachment to an item. At that point, I would think about what I wanted my children’s hearts endeared to through years of putting up Christmas decorations. Did I want them excited about pulling out the reindeer from the Christmas box or delighted about opening the little glass nativity that sits on a mirror? Where would their joy be—in the cute little snowman or the wall plaque that says, “Jesus is the Reason for the Season”? The items that had heart attachment but no longer fit with our new decorating scheme were easier to let go of as I focused my mind on Christ being the theme.
I have to admit that, even with thinking right thoughts about eliminating decorations we no longer wanted to use, there were a few things that stayed in the boxes rather than coming out for the first couple of years. I simply couldn’t get rid of them. Finally a year came when the heart attachments were truly broken. Those items were pitched in the trash. “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth” (Colossians 3:1-2).
We also began to pray for the Lord to show us where to find decorations that would have Him be the focus. What exactly would those decorations look like? The acquiring of replacement decorations was actually hard since so many Christmas decorations had nothing to do with the story of the birth of Christ.
It was just a year or so later we found a fireplace mantle garland with a large ornament hanging from the middle of it that said, “Name Above All Names.” There were smaller, scroll-shaped ornaments hanging on the sides with words on them such as, “Truth,” “Bread of Life,” “Emmanuel.” It was perfect for our new Christmas decorating theme. This became the focal point of our Christmas decorating, with our nativity set sitting on the mantle right above the “Name Above All Names.”
Each year we prayed and looked, the Lord provided two or three Christ-centered decorations. We rejoiced in God’s goodness to give us decorations that kept our minds on His birth during the Christmas season.
CHANGED MY OUTLOOK ON DECORATING
The change in our Christmas decorating filled my heart with joy. I loved the excitement in our children’s eyes as they pulled out their favorite decorations from the Christmas storage boxes each year. Every item put our thoughts on Jesus Christ in some way. There were no more mixed messages being sent to our children. When a guest entered our home at Christmas, he no longer wondered what Christmas meant to the Maxwell family. He saw Jesus Christ everywhere he looked.
With Christmas fast approaching, may Jesus be known to your children even by your decorations. May you use them to draw your children’s hearts into a deeper love for Jesus as they experience the excitement of getting out those Christmas decorations that remind them of His birth. May your decorations also bring joy to your heart because they encourage you, your family, and any guests in your home to reflect on the magnificent miracle of the birth of our Savior.