For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. Luke 2:11 KJV
Christmas.
The birth of a savior.
Is there anything more joyous in this world than that? Indeed, there is not. So, it’s no wonder why Christmas is such a beautiful and magical time. It’s truly the most wonderful time of the year – a time that should be celebrated and experienced with all five senses.
The Lord has gifted most of us with five senses through which we experience life. Let us make use of those senses in our sanctuary to create long lasting memories for our families. Here are a few ways to do this…
Sight: This perhaps is the most obvious, but let’s not forget to make Christmas a magical time for our family by decorating our sanctuary. Now, you don’t need to break the bank and erect a fully decorated Christmas tree in every room, however, try to attempt having a small glimmer of the Christmas spirit in every room. This can easily be accomplished by simply filling some glass jars with ornaments, or placing a small wreath on the wall.
Smell: Make sure your family and guests are experiencing the glorious scents of Christmas in all major areas of your sanctuary. Dust off those holiday scented candles and spread them around the house. If you live in a cold climate, perhaps you can have a fresh batch of the family’s favorite cider simmering in a crock pot on a regular basis. No scent permeates the sanctuary better than hot cider!
Hearing: Add extra holiday magic to your sanctuary by playing festive Christmas music as often as possible. Music has a profound impact on one’s spiritual and emotional well-being and has the power to melt away the stress of a busy day.
Taste: Nothing says “Merry Christmas” like a platter full of freshly baked treats… especially for children. Endeavor to bake fresh Christmas treats at least once a week. I know this is a lofty goal and can be quite time consuming, however, Christmas only comes but once a year – lavish that Christmas spirit on your loved ones!
Touch: Encourage and entice your family and friends to experience Christmas with exploring hands. Add decorative items to your holiday decor that have interesting textures and beckon to be touched. Grab some boxes in various shapes and sizes and wrap them up like Christmas presents with sparkling paper and extravagant bows. Spread them around the house and see if family and friends can keep their hands to themselves! And don’t forget about that warm crackling fire burning in the hearth! If that doesn’t invite hands to join the Christmas celebration, then nothing will.
About Andrea Mitchell