Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!
2 Corinthians 9:15
I tucked two Bible verses inside this giant box while the kids were running around (in their pajamas and winter coats) on the back porch scrounging for nature items. When they came inside we talked about the hope that Jesus brought in the manger. I let the kids glue their nature items onto the manger I drew on one side of our box.
But Jesus didn’t come to be a baby. He didn’t come for Christmas. He came to grow up, to live his life and then die. The hope we have is not in the manger. Our hope is in the cross. We turned the box around and I drew a cross which they decorated with sticks and berries.
Jesus’ birth was so he could die. But his death washes away our sins. And his resurrection brings us new hope—life eternal with Him. This tree will sit under our tree until Christmas morning until we open it and read of God’s indescribable gift!
For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.
1 Peter 1:18-21
Update: We opened the box up on Christmas Day and when we did Asa thought there would be a goat inside! It was so sweet because he knew this gift was about Jesus! I loved that we started our Christmas gift-opening with remembering that Jesus is the best present of all!
Laura says
I’m looking forward to my little guy being old enough to do advent activities with. I love this!
Tricia says
You let your kids go outside in their PJs!! that is shocking! (kidding) 🙂
Way too cold in PA to go out in PJs! But love the idea!
oh amanda says
Hey–they had their coats on, too! 😉
Bobbi says
This is amazing! Seriously, something so simple yet powerful!
Reginald says
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Amy says
Fabulous idea. I’m definitely doing this, thank you for sharing.
Rachel says
What was the gift inside?
Hillary says
Such a powerful and visual way to bring the focus on Jesus even under the Christmas Tree. Definitely doing this with my 3 boys. I already have the brown paper. We have plenty of leaves and sticks outside waiting to be gathered by little hands. Maybe thinking if I can put a sealed juice and cracker inside the box for each of us to take communion Christmas morning when we read the scripture inside.
Cheryl says
Very nice idea. What exactly was in the box?