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Written for Christian families with children between the ages of 2-10 years old, "The Best Gift of All" helps bridge the gap between the sacred and secular during the Christmas season. Throughout the book, author Heather Martin extends an invitation to find Jesus not just in the manger, but also in the presents, trees, lights, and activities that come with the holidays.
Christian parents experience a unique set of challenges when it comes to navigating Christmas with their children. Cultural practices often feel at odds with the spiritual significance of the season. Do we pretend that Santa is real? Are all these gifts teaching children to love the material world more than the spiritual one? How can we help our kids focus on the richness of Jesus without missing out on any of the fun?
This book contains 24 Advent readings and 12 readings for Christmas. Each day your family will learn spiritual truths from the Bible which are reinforced through activities, crafts, and guided questions.
In the Advent portion of this book, each day's theme centers around common traditions during Christmas time and uses those traditions and imagery to point towards a spiritual lesson. For example, Christmas trees are meant to remind us that Jesus came to give us everlasting life, one that is evergreen. Presents wrapped under the tree are a reminder of the hopeful expectation and waiting people experienced while waiting for the promised Messiah.
Of course, if we are to address modern-day Christmas practices, there is no getting around the guy in the big red coat - Santa. This book addresses Santa by sharing a story from the life of the real Saint Nicholas and emphasizes partaking in the practice of giving in secret. The topic is left open-ended to accommodate families who practice Santa and those who do not.
For the 12 days of Christmas, each reading centers on details of Jesus's life before his ministry began. It includes the stories of the Magi, Jesus being presented in the temple, and his baptism. It also includes some of the names of Jesus and a craft each day.
