A few years ago, I read an article about a family who only gives each child in their family three gifts on Christmas. Each gift represented one of the three gifts given to Jesus by the Magi. To be honest...At first, I thought it was a clever way to cut back on presents for the year, but it really got me thinking. What a wonderful way to highlight the main reason for Christmas. From then on, I was determined to implement this in our home. Giving the gift of gold, frankinsence, and myrrh, tells us the Magi knew exactly who Jesus was. In fact, at the time they were standard gifts given to honor a king or diety in the ancient world. And although their significance is still up for debate, some scholars believe gold represents His kingship, frankincense a symbol of His priestly role, and myrrh foreshadowing His death and embalming. For more info on their significance, check out gotquestions.org. So, how do we implement this at home? Gold represents something valuable. This could be the most expensive gift we buy, or in my toddler's case, the biggest present under the tree. A museum membership, guitar lessons, an ice cream maker, or a gift card to their favorite restaurant could work for Gold. Frankinsence was burned as a sacrifice or for worship. This could be a gift to improve our child's relationship with God. A bible, nativity set, a devotional, and a bible verse game are all great examples for Frankinsence. Myrrh symbolizes suffering and affliction as it was a spice used in embalming. The gift of service benefits the whole family and others. For Myrrh we may volunteer or donate to a local food pantry, pack a box for Operation Christmas Child, become a World Vision Partner, or help those in need right in our own neighborhood. Volunteering as a family has so many benefits and although it's not real suffering, it's giving to others using our own skills or funds. Do you have a family tradition?
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