Jesus Plus

Okay, so there are still some big questions I have if I am going to teach Nori and truly practice Christmas in honor of Jesus.
First off, how to relate gift giving, cookies, parties- all the good ol' neutral traditions- to Jesus?
One friend shared with me how she taught the advent season to her kids. She said that Jesus is the self emptying gift from God to us. Advent, ie the Holidays, are a time to be present with each other as God is present to us as the human Jesus.
I love that Nori knows Jesus first as human. I would hate for her to think of Jesus as only a story or in the sky. But Jesus as human is clearly a God among us. A God that cares.
My friend said that buying/making a gift specific and sacrificially for another is sharing in God's desire to be specific and personal to us.
I can go with that. It is a season of presence. God's presence among us and us taking time to be with others (ie Holiday parties.) And of course I can't pass up the cliche- "presence is the presents."
So, gifts and parties are covered.
How about decorating? Last year, I led a small service on the solstice for a few friends. We stood in the dark, to recognize the dark and to accept what that brings, good and bad. We remembered why the church historically chose December 25 as Christmas: the earth begins to turn and the light comes closer. Jesus is the light.
December is cold and the "greening" of the house is to bring the reminder of life indoors.
And that's about as far as I've gotten. Still undecided re: the book I bought Nori, "Twas the Night Before Christmas."
I guess there's still 17 days to decide.