Donors Can Keep Christ in Christmas Through Acts of Love and Service
Remember the 1965 television special A Charlie Brown Christmas? Charlie Brown was desperate to discover the true meaning of Christmas.
Lucy believed Christmas was a racket developed by unseen corporations. (Lucy: “Look, Charlie, let’s face it. We all know that Christmas is a big commercial racket. It’s run by a big eastern syndicate, you know.”)
Snoopy lapped up the commercialism. (He won first-place for his overly decorated doghouse).
And poor Charlie Brown just wanted everyone to embrace the peace of the holiday. (Charlie Brown: “Isn’t there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about?”)
What Is Christmas All About?
Christmas serves as a lasting reminder of God’s promise and fulfillment. The birth of Jesus Christ is seen as a life-changing moment bringing light to the world. Christ’s birth symbolizes hope, faith, joy, and peace.
Honoring Christ during the holiday season gives each one of us the opportunity to express our love, kindness, and generosity toward others. Acts of charity and goodwill embody the spirit of Christ and share the love that He taught us during His ministry on earth.
We celebrate Christmas with hearts full of gratitude, reflecting on the meaning of God’s presence in our lives. The Nativity story, told against the backdrop of a humble manger, emphasizes the humility and accessibility of God’s love.
Our heartfelt exchange of gifts mirrors the ultimate gift of Christ, embodying the selfless love we want to show one another.
Truly, Christmas is a time to rejoice in the hope brought by the birth of Jesus Christ. Hope, faith, joy, and peace are renewed across the world.
12 Ways to Honor Christ During the 12 Days of Christmas
1 –Worship and attend a Christmas Eve candlelight service.
2 – Create a Christ-centered Advent calendar. An Advent calendar helps to foster reading daily Scriptures, prayers, or reflections while counting down the days leading to Christmas in anticipation of Christ’s birth.
3 – Add Christian symbols in home decorations. Decorate your home with ornaments and decorations that feature favorite Christmas Bible verses. (Below are five of the best Christmas Bible verses for inspiration.)
4 – Host a Nativity play or storytelling session.
5 – Volunteer for community service or charity work. Engage in acts of service and kindness, sharing the spirit of Christ. Volunteer at a local charity, give your time at your church, or simply reach out to those in need. (Click here to see how you can give to support Food For The Poor this Christmas.)
6 – Organize a prayer group or participate in a prayer chain.
7 – Read and reflect on relevant Bible passages as a family. (Scroll for five of the best Bible verses for the Christmas season.)
8 – Send Christmas cards with an encouraging word from Scriptures.
9 – Give the gift of forgiveness and reconciliation.
10 – Practice gratitude and count blessings. Deepen your generosity and compassion by addressing the needs of the less fortunate during the holiday season.
11 – Make Christ the center of your gift-giving. Encourage others to experience the joy of giving and receiving.
12 – Share a spirit of love, joy, and peace in all interactions.
Be intentional with your holiday traditions and practice keeping Christ at the center of the season.
5 Christmas Bible Verses to Inspire You
It’s easy to remember the reason for the season with these Bible verses. Include them in your Christmas greetings or look up the passages and reflect on their meaning.
- (Luke 2:11, NIV) “Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is the Messiah, the Lord.”
- (Isaiah 9:6, NIV) “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
- (Matthew 1:23, NIV) “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call Him Immanuel (which means ‘God with us’).”
- (John 3:16, NIV) “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
- (Matthew 2:10, NIV) “When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.”
A Food For The Poor Holiday Tradition
For over 20 years, Food For The Poor donors have supported our tradition of securing the release of nonviolent offenders through our prison ministry. Each year, around Christmas and Easter, donors secure the release of nonviolent offenders in designated countries in Latin America and the Caribbean by paying their accumulated fines.
Without the support and genuine compassion of our donors, we would be unable to reunite families at Christmas. This tradition is our way of reflecting the mercy of Christ for people who were only imprisoned because they could not afford to pay their fines for minor offenses such as petty theft, which often happens in cases when parents are strapped financially and unable to otherwise feed their children.
Celebrating the birth of Jesus – the real meaning of Christmas – wraps us in love, fulfillment, humility, hope, redemption, and gratitude. Christmas can be a spiritual journey to understand God’s plan for us and to live out the teachings and example of Christ.
In A Charlie Brown Christmas, Linus reminded everyone about the real meaning of Christmas when he recited the Nativity story.
Linus: “… Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. That’s what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown.” (Luke 2:14)
As we celebrate the holiday season, we also want to celebrate you and the positive impact you can make as a Food For The Poor donor. Visit Food For The Poor online at foodforthepoor.org to discover how you can give a year-end charitable gift.
May God bless you and your family this Christmas and always.