I was having a conversation with a mother who was concerned her son understood the true meaning of Christmas only enough to repeat it back to her, but not in a way where he truly believed it. She said he knew all the right answers but she could tell he was still more enticed by the presents and parties than the celebration of Christ's birth. What do we do when our children know the right answers but don't own them? How do we make the truths of Christmas more than just knowledge?
Truthfully, I'm not sure. But just like in evangelism, we must trust the Lord to cultivate belief. You can teach your children all the right answers, but it is God who changes their hearts to love.
I've written before about the importance of sharing your own story as a method of evangelism. Let me encourage you to take a similar approach when teaching your children about Christmas. Don't stop at explaining what the birth of Christ means to the world, tell what it means to you. When you talk about the difficulty surrounding Mary and Joseph's lot, explain how you would have felt were you in their place. When you describe the angels' song of celebration, relay how you would have felt were you in the field with the shepherds.
Give your child a glimpse into your own love for Christ as it relates to the Christmas story. Share what it is about this time of year that stirs your heart to worship and that excites your faith and increases your joy.
Catechizing your children is not a bad thing. But don't rely only on question-and-answer methods. Use Scripture and your own testimony to teach your child why Christmas reveals the Father's deep love for His children and His plan to redeem them from sin.
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