I’m a big fan of putting routines into place that make accomplishing your goals and desires as automatic as possible. I’ve been doing that for years, since about the time I realized that my children would absorb more about life and values and priorities from the day to day minutiae than from all the lectures, object lessons and rants my husband and I would give them. I purposefully set in place routines and established norms to help them (and me!) maintain order, learn discipline and live out our faith.

          This wasn’t an easy lessen for me. I’m a spontaneous, let’s have fun as often as we can type of person. It took me a long time, well into my adulthood, to realize that establishing routines would actually create an atmosphere where spontaneity could thrive. Example: Every morning, within twenty minutes of getting out of bet, I am dressed and ready for my day. That ensures I’m ready for whatever unexpected event occurs. I also fold clean clothes while watching tv in the evening with my family, combining a mindless chore with some (mindless?) relaxation and family time. These routines simplify my life, revealing time and opportunity for planned and unexpected activities.

          When my children were small, I endeavored to structure our days so that they learned spiritual values and principles even as they went about their daily playtime and chores. I placed Scripture verses in strategic places, we prayed before meals, read from the Bible at the start of every day. Even our ways of disciplining expressed our values. A part of every punishment, every reprimand included a time to apologize to God. This emphasized the truth that all wrongdoing is first an act of rebellion against Him.

          This time of year marks an important foundation of our faith, something I wanted my children to know and understand. I wanted them to know the facts surrounding the birth of Christ, just as I wanted them to know and experience the reality of Him in their lives. True to form, I established a tradition to accomplish that. Each year, we read the Christmas story . . . with a twist. Each evening for many days leading up to Christmas, we would read a small portion of the story, starting with the angel appearing to Zechariah. As we read, the children acted it out and placed the appropriate figures in place. (When I set out Christmas decorations, I arranged areas for Bethlehem, Nazareth, Judea hill country, Jerusalem and the East, ready for the nativity figures.) In the early years the story might have seemed lost as the boys were more engrossed in dive-bombing the angels in place than in hearing and contemplating their messages, but in reality those antics made the story come alive for them, becoming a true part of their lives.

          That is what I want to do for you this Christmas season. (Minus the dive-bombing angels. ) Between now and New Year’s Eve, I will be posting a portion of the Christmas story. I might add a thought or two of my own, but most likely I will just share the story from Scripture. Beginning the 8th, something will be posted each Tuesday and Thursday until Christmas Day, when the posts will increase to daily, (No post on Sunday.) I hope you enjoy experiencing the events in this way, one at a time each in its own spotlight.

          May you know peace and joy this season!