I recently came across a reel on Instagram that made me stop and think. A mom asked her twelve-year-old daughter what she got for Christmas last year, and she could not remember. Then she asked where their family went on vacation that year, and the daughter remembered instantly. That moment stayed with me. It made me realize how deeply I want to create an intentional Christmas, one filled with meaning, faith, and memories that last far beyond the gifts.
As a mom, I love the beauty and sparkle of the season, but I also feel called to slow down and make space for what matters most. An intentional Christmas is not about doing more. It is about being more present. It is about letting the focus return to Jesus, to family, and to gratitude for all God has given.
Rethinking Christmas Through Faith
Christmas is about Jesus. It always has been. Yet if we are honest, it can be so easy to let that truth slip behind the noise of shopping lists and schedules. Seeing that reel reminded me to slow down and ask myself a simple question: What is the purpose of this season for our family?
The answer always comes back to Him. God has been so good to us. He has provided, protected, and poured out blessings even when we weren’t looking for them. That alone is reason enough to celebrate, but I want my daughters to know that celebration should come through service, not excess.
Now that my girls are getting older, I realize how quickly these years pass. We only have a short window while they’re still small and impressionable. This is the time to shape their hearts, to teach kindness, generosity, and empathy. I want them to understand that love looks like giving, and that joy grows deeper when it’s shared.
A Simple Christmas Tradition
When I was growing up, my parents made a shift that I will never forget. Around the time my siblings and I turned ten or eleven, they decided that Christmas morning would be about meaning, not quantity. They explained that Jesus received three gifts from the wise men- gold, frankincense, and myrrh and from that year on, we would receive three gifts as well.
At first, I thought it sounded small. But looking back, those Christmas mornings are some of my most cherished memories. My parents were teaching us that enough is enough, that gratitude is greater than abundance. It was their way of honoring God in a world that so often measures love by how much is under the tree.
This year, I plan to carry that same tradition into our own home. Three gifts- thoughtful, intentional, and rooted in meaning. Not because we can’t do more, but because we don’t need to.
Serving Others This Season
Beyond our home, I want this to be the year our family looks outward. Our church is doing a giving tree program, where families can choose a child in need and provide Christmas gifts. We picked a child this past week, and my heart already feels different knowing we get to bless someone else.
As an adopted child myself, I understand what it feels like to long for belonging and to know the quiet joy of being seen. That is why this season stirs me so deeply. There are children who may not have parents to shop for them or families to gather around them. If we can bring a little warmth into that space even through something as simple as a wrapped gift... it matters.
A Shift Toward Meaning
Creating an intentional Christmas doesn’t mean giving up celebration. It means redirecting it. Instead of focusing on what we can get, we focus on what we can give, our time, our presence, our prayers, and our love.
Sometimes that looks like baking bread or soup for someone who is hurting. Maybe there’s a woman at your church who lost her husband this year, or a neighbor spending their first Christmas without someone they love. One of the most powerful ways to serve is through food.
If you’re looking for something comforting to make, I shared a recipe recently for How to Make a Healthy Pasta Soup. It’s simple, nourishing, and perfect for gifting. Delivering a bowl of soup to someone who’s grieving can say more than any words could. It’s a way of quietly showing them they are remembered.
Creating a Spirit of Service at Home
Serving others doesn’t have to be elaborate to be considered an intentional Christmas. It can be small, thoughtful gestures that teach our children empathy. You can bake cookies together for a neighbor, write cards for nursing home residents, or pack care bags for a local shelter. Let your children be part of it. Let them see your joy in giving.
When we include our kids in service, we are teaching them that compassion isn’t seasonal, it’s foundational. They learn that generosity is not measured by wealth but by heart.
This shift in perspective has also helped me personally. It takes the pressure off. Instead of spending December feeling overwhelmed by shopping and wrapping, I can rest in knowing that we are honoring God with our time and our choices.
The Gift of Slowing Down
Part of this new rhythm for an intentional Christmas means saying no to the things that drain us. Fewer events, fewer checklists, fewer expectations. I am learning to trade the busyness for peace, to make space for quiet nights at home with cocoa and Christmas music.
It’s not about doing nothing, it’s about doing what matters most. Reading the story of Jesus’ birth together. Lighting a candle and praying as a family. Laughing in the kitchen while baking cookies that don’t turn out perfect. Those are the moments our children will remember long after the presents are forgotten.
I want my girls to look back and remember that Christmas was sacred, not stressful. That their home was filled with joy and love and warmth. That they learned from an early age that the holiday wasn’t about the newest toy but about the everlasting truth of God’s love.
Closing Reflection
This year, my prayer is simple. That our Christmas will reflect the heart of Christ. That it will be slower, simpler, and filled with service. That my children will grow up knowing the beauty of giving, the power of gratitude, and the peace that comes from faith.
We may gift less this year, but we will gain more. More connection. More purpose. More of what truly matters.
If you feel that tug on your heart to create a more intentional Christmas, I encourage you to follow it. Start small. Serve one person. Simplify one tradition. Let God meet you in the stillness. That is where the season’s truest joy lives.
