25 Days of Christmas Kindness

I had no choice but to redefine Christmas in our home. Everything had changed with the divorce and in an effort to embrace this clean slate, I wanted to do something different—something brave. Something that would be remembered much longer, and would hold much greater significance than baby dolls and Polly Pockets.

My daughters, though very young, knew that Christmas was Jesus’ birthday. However, at their ages, all that meant to them was twinkly lights, pretty decorations, and a lot of presents. Jesus’ birthday had become a celebration centered around their list of wants—and I knew the fault for that laid directly on my shoulders.

A NEW BEGINNING

They were almost 2 and 5 at the time so the pressure to make Christmas all about them was more pressing than ever. The guilt I was experiencing, in the midst of our circumstances, was almost debilitating. Everything they knew as ‘normal’ had been completely disrupted just a couple months earlier, and this would be their first Christmas with their family divided. I struggled often with questions propelled by pain, “If I buy them all the toys their little bedroom can hold, stuff their stockings to the brim, prepare the most lavish Christmas dinner, and let them make the biggest mess of their lives baking Christmas cookies—will it distract them enough to take away their pain?”

In previous years, I would become caught up in the hustle and bustle of the season in all the ‘normal’ ways. I was consumed with finding the best gifts, wrapping them beautifully, tucking them beneath my pristinely adorned tree, and decorating my house to Pinterest-perfect standards. Although this year, it didn’t look like my previous standards would fit within my new single mom budget, I was willing to do whatever it would take to make my girls happy.

However—it didn’t seem like acquiring more ‘things’ was going to do the trick. 

HOPE ARISING

Since I was in the process of reinventing everything else about my life, it seemed quite fitting that this would be the year to approach Christmas differently as well. I determined to make it meaningful—bursting with traditions, nostalgia, and lessons that would have a lasting impact for years to come.

This desire didn’t come easily nor instantly. It did, however, become stronger with each passing day. As department stores started hanging garland, as the big tree was lit in the town square, as familiar Christmas carols began to fill the air—it came slowly as I accepted, with eyes wide open, my newfound reality. I knew that it was up to me to decide what this new beginning would mean for me and my girls.

Out of loneliness, desperation, and despair, I found myself turning to prayer and reading my Bible. I knew there was nowhere I could go to escape my pain—so I took it to the Lord and trusted Him to show me how to ease it. I had lost everything. But through the ongoing process of turning to God with my broken heart—I found the One thing I truly needed.

I wish I had made Jesus the priority of our Christmases all along, but I hadn’t. I had to be brought to my knees before I made Christmas in our home all about Christ—His heart, His love, His agenda.

REINVENTING CHRISTMAS

I decided to start a new gift-giving tradition in our home. My daughters would each receive 4 small presents for Christmas—something they want, something they need, something to wear, and something to read.

Our focus for the rest of the season would be directed outside the walls of our little upstairs apartment. I was determined that we would fix our gaze upon those whom I was certain Jesus had His eyes on. God impressed on my heart that this would include anyone who our eyes met—and we were wide open to being sent to whomever He chose.

I was not aware at the time that ‘25 Days of Christmas Kindness‘ was a thing. I simply prayed—and the first idea that came to me was that every day of December, leading up until Christmas, we would do something kind for someone. Family, friends, strangers—anyone was fair game. We didn’t have anything resembling a plan and we weren’t organized in the least. We started very small with one simple mission—to take our eyes off of ourselves and focus on others.

We began each day with prayer. I left much of the ‘planning’ of our acts of kindness to the girls. It was amazing to see these tiny little people ask the Lord who He would like to send us to that day.

They would bow their precious heads, blonde ringlets resting on sweet shoulders, and whisper, “Jesus, please tell us what you want us to do today.” We’d sit and wait in quiet patience until an idea took form in one of their minds. I learned so much watching their timid faith become expectant. I’ve been forever changed by witnessing how clearly they seemed to hear His voice—simply by giving Him room to speak.

BEGINNING OUR KINDNESS JOURNEY

Our first few days, a fire was lit within us that kept us going for the remainder of the month. Although nothing we did was extravagant or profound, the feeling of giving to others as a family, for Jesus, filled us with unspeakable joy.