BJU Press Blog

Giving Back by Serving Others

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serving others gift

Every Christmas, we celebrate the single most precious gift ever given—the gift of Christ coming as a man to walk among us and to take our sins upon Himself and to die for them. There is no way we could even partially return His gift, but we should actively be doing whatever we can to follow the second-most important commandment—to love our neighbors. And serving others is one of the easiest ways of showing love.

Here are some ways you and your children can serve others this Christmas and give back the love of Christ.

Blessing Bags

Erica from Confessions of a Homeschooler and her children hand out bags of useful goodies to those in need. Even younger children can help in putting bags together and handing them out. Customize your bags for Christmas by including a small wrapped surprise gift along with the other items.

Operation Christmas Child

Pack shoeboxes full of fun gifts for children all around the world. Your child could choose to pack a box for a boy or girl of the same age. By having a child put it together, you know that it’s a box a child will enjoy. But the deadline for turning boxes in is in mid-November to allow time for the gifts to be shipped abroad. Be sure to make a note of it for next year!

Adopt a Family

Invite a family that has lost someone or an older couple that has no family to join your holiday meals. Your children can welcome them by encouraging them to take part in your family traditions. When I was a young teen, the families that “adopted” my dad, my brothers, and me for the holidays were the biggest blessings I could have asked for.

Service Coupons

Make service coupons for your children to endorse and hand out to elderly, sick, or struggling neighbors or church friends as Christmas gifts. The receivers can turn these coupons in for services whenever they need something done, such as taking care of the lawn, cleaning the house, or babysitting. You can make your own or use these printable coupons.

Cuddle Babies

Many hospitals with neonatal intensive care units allow volunteers to come in and hold or spend time with the babies whose parents aren’t always able to be there. Some hospitals even have training programs that teach the volunteers how to handle cuddle sessions. Volunteer baby cuddlers can let the nurses stay on task and encourage parents that there is always someone giving their struggling babies the love they need. Contact a local hospital to ask about volunteer baby cuddling.

Animal Shelters

Your older teens might enjoy helping out at an animal shelter during their Christmas break. Many shelters have seasonal events that they need extra volunteers for or down periods when the regular volunteers are on vacation. And volunteers don’t just spend all their time petting cats and dogs. They often get to work alongside the shelter workers and help potential adopters.

While it’s certainly important to share God’s love during the Christmas season, there’s no reason you have to stop on December 26. Many of these ideas for serving others are applicable all-year-round. So encourage your children to reach out and be blessings during this season and next year too!

Shopping for Hope

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Shopping for Hope
Ever gone to the grocery store when snow is predicted? Not sure how it is in your neighborhood, but in the South you’ll likely find empty shelves—especially in the dairy aisle.

It doesn’t take an impending storm for my internal shelves to get depleted. Just the day-to-day interactions with fallen people on a fallen planet will clean me out of all reserves of hope, confidence, and energy.

Some days I feel the need for a semitruck to pull up to my backdoor and unload, among other things, a whole case of Reason-To-Go-On. I could also use an Expert to stock all the shelves of my heart so that each product is on just the right level for me to give to those in need.

But in reality, I don’t need a semi to pull up to my loading dock. My “store” is actually in the middle of the most complete warehouse anywhere because “in Him we live, and move, and have our being” (Acts 17:28). And He has provided me with an intercom that works perfectly without disturbing any of the shoppers who come to me for help. “Delivery needed, Father. Please send a fresh supply for the Hope Department.”

Even before we ask, the God of hope stands ready to fill us “with all joy and peace in believing, that [we] may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost” (Romans 15:13).

Need more than hope? “God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work” (2 Corinthians 9:8).

Feeling depleted in all areas? “My God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19).

Never hesitate to use your intercom. “He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?” (Romans 8:32).

When your students, coworkers, family, and friends all seem needy; when everyone seems to want a piece of you, remember what Jesus told His followers: “Freely ye have received, freely give” (Matthew 10:8).

Today—and every day—God’s warehouse is always open. And the intercom always works.

Christmas Books to Read and Treasure

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Christmas books
It’s Christmas week. Mom comes to find me, her hands clasped around something behind her back. The gift is often wrapped, but whether it is or not, she usually makes me close my eyes, adding to the suspense. Except it’s not a complete surprise—I know what’s coming, but not because I’ve gone around looking for my presents like some of your kids do. This special just-before-Christmas gift has become a tradition in our family.

What is this gift? You can probably guess by the title of my post, and if you’re thinking “a book,” you’re right. More specifically, it is a Christmas book.

Christmas books come in all shapes, sizes, and genres. Some are beautifully illustrated with poetic words that are great for reading aloud; others require imagination to see the delightful story. Among my favorites are illustrated retellings of the original Christmas story.

In hopes that your family might be inspired to create a new tradition, here are some Christmas books that are favorites for Mom and me:

“The Quiet Little Woman” by Louisa May Alcott

The touching story of a young orphan girl who longs for friendship, love, and belonging, this short story can be read in one sitting, but if you do a read-aloud session, I’d recommend sharing the reading between a couple of participants. Mom and I prefer reading every other page so that we can both enjoy viewing the illustrations in our copy. Read reviews on Goodreads.

Benjamin’s Sling by Eileen Berry

My autographed copy of this Christmas picture book actually traveled home with me one Christmas break. When I found out that Mom had gotten her sister to wrap the book and ask me to transport it home, I had a good laugh! This retelling of the nativity is told through the eyes of a shepherd boy and is written in poetic form. Buy the book.

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

Christmases past, present, and future are reflected on in this classic novel, and Mr. Ebenezer Scrooge is brought face-to-face with the effects of his actions. You have probably seen different film versions, as I have; but the book is almost always better! Download the free eBook from Amazon.

“The Gift of the Magi” by O. Henry

Your teens could get caught up in the mushy love of a young couple secretly planning gifts for each other, but don’t let them miss this story’s deeper message. It truly is more blessed to give than to receive. Read reviews on Goodreads.

The Secret Santa of Olde Stonington by Mark Kimball Moulton

A native New-Englander, Mom taught me to love this story with its poetic flow and impressionistic-like illustrations. The title might give the impression that the book is about Santa Claus, but don’t worry.  It’s a good read-aloud book that tells how an old man tries to meet the needs of others in a small seaport village in the 1700s. Read a review on Goodreads.

Christmas Crossroads by Elizabeth Raum

What path would your child takes on the way to visit Jesus on the very first Christmas? This novel for seven- to nine-year-olds lets readers choose the actions of one of three children who are traveling for that very purpose. Each decision point brings a twist in the plot and a new adventure and provides a unique way for kids to imagine what the first Christmas would have been like for someone their age. Buy the book.

The Legend of the Candy Cane by Lori Walburg

My grandmother introduced me to this Christmas book, but Mom and I have also enjoyed it together. One dark night a new tradesman comes to town. The local children have a secret wish for the kind of business they hope he’ll open—a candy store. Woven into this imaginary story is the significance behind the candy cane’s shape and colors. It’s a fun story to end with a sweet treat! Read reviews on Goodreads.

Chickadee Winter by Dawn L. Watkins

A favorite author from my childhood, Dawn Watkins skillfully communicates the essence of childhood dreams, memories, and concerns in this classic story. It recounts young Jack’s homesickness during the Christmas season and the special role his grandfather plays in making new memories. Buy the book.

What Christmas books would you add to this list?

A Mother’s Nighttime Blessings

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a homeschool mother's nighttime blessings
A good night’s sleep—that elusive goal of every mom—often remains underappreciated by the general population. If you’re like me, you’ve spent many long nights feeding hungry babies, nursing sick children, and comforting little ones.

I distinctly remember the exuberant joy I felt the first time my firstborn slept five hours straight at night—an event worthy of a Facebook status update! But unfortunately, that wasn’t the end of the sleepless nights. My little girl soon started teething. Then came the occasional ear infections, coughing spells, and stomach bugs. Summer thunderstorms rolled in, and imaginary nighttime monsters peeked into rooms. Sleep became like a much-longed-for-friend who only occasionally came to visit.

Confession

And I have a confession to make: I love sleeping. So at first I resented being awakened at 2:00 a.m. by a screaming child. I longed to be able to push a “pause” button on mothering and snuggle under the covers for a good nap. But mothering, as you well know, does not fit into a tidy 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. schedule. It never stops.

I don’t think I will ever manage being woken at 2:00 a.m. with a smile on my face. But the Lord has been showing me how I can make the best of these unexpected wake-up calls.

Focus

Even though it is often more difficult in the nighttime hours, I can focus on exemplifying Christ to my children. Several times the Gospels tell us of how Christ had compassion on the multitudes even when He was physically weary. He never complained. He never sent them away. When I get up in the middle of the night to take care of my children, more than just being a good mom, I am living the love of Christ for them.

Additionally, these nighttime adventures provide me with more opportunities to fulfill the commandment of Deuteronomy 6:7 to talk to our children continually about God. When my little one is awakened from a nightmare or by a bad storm, I can comfort her with reminders that God is always watching over us, protecting His sons and daughters. When I’m rocking a sick child back to sleep, I can sing songs about God’s love and mercy.

And most of all, when I’m lacking sleep, I am continually reminded of my need to rely on the Lord’s strength. With countless other sleep-deprived moms, I echo the psalmist in Psalm 73:26, “My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.”

Ultimately, at the end of the long days that follow the sleepless nights, I am most blessed when I realize again that the Lord has sustained me.

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4 Holiday Activities for the Homeschool Family

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holiday activities
The holiday season is the perfect time to bring your whole family together for fun activities. And you certainly get bonus points if those activities are educational or even result in homemade, inexpensive gifts! So, here’s a list of four enjoyable holiday activities that teach teamwork, truth, or both in the context of Christmastime.

Hot Chocolate Stir Sticks

from The Unlikely Homeschool

The Unlikely Homeschool shares a super-easy and delicious activity that your whole family will love—hot chocolate stir sticks! These tasty treats are also ideal when you need some inexpensive gifts for friends and family members. Get the ingredient list and instructions on the blog and remember to scroll down to the bottom of the page for more great holiday ideas!

A Christmas Carol Literature Unit

from Confessions of a Homeschooler

Are you looking to incorporate holiday-themed tales into your kids’ literature studies? The helpful blog Confessions of a Homeschooler describes how to do a literature unit on A Christmas Carol, complete with beautiful printable mini-books and comprehension questions. There’s even a video tutorial for creating the flip-up pocket lapbook to hold the story timeline and mini-books. The unit is adaptable for Grades 1–5.

Bottle-Cap Animal Craft

from The Homeschool Scientist

The Homeschool Scientist brings the holiday cheer to your science lovers with a delightful Christmas animal craft made with bottle caps. The free printable includes three colorful animals; there’s a link to an online tutorial that shows how to do it. Teach the kids about each kind of animal and its tracks while you’re creating keyrings, bag tags, or zipper pulls!

A Christmas Hymn Study

from Not Consumed

Homeschool blog NotConsumed.com brings us back to the lessons learned by hymnists gone before us in Still Singing: Hymn Stories for Every Season. This study will introduce your family to the histories of many of your favorite hymns, including Christmas carols.  Learn the origins of over 20 hymns, in addition to four Christmas songs: “O Come, O Come Emmanuel,” “Silent Night,” “God Rest Ye Merry, Gentleman,” and “Joy to the World.”

Looking for more Christmas crafts and activities? Try making the suncatcher nativity scene from Peace Creek on the Prairie. Your Christmas season doesn’t have to be filled with a new activity every day. But when you keep it simple and highlight the true reason for Christmas, you create memories that last a lifetime.

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Rebecca is a work-at-home freelance writer, novelist, wife, and the mom of two bright-eyed little ones. She credits her success in writing and her love of books to her own mom, who homeschooled three kids from pre-K through high school.