Gifted: 12 Days of Handmade features various ideas for making handmade gifts, homemade decor, gift wrapping ideas and also includes free downloadable projects to print.
From the first Christmas I can remember living with my mom, Santa never came to our house on Christmas morning. I read stories of Santa delivering gifts, took pictures with him at the mall and imagined how he might travel the world in one evening. My mom never stole the imagination of a five-year old away, but Santa never climbed down the chimney of our house.
Christmas morning I raced down the stairs, bright-eyed and filled with anticipation of the presents that beautifully grace our Christmas tree. Quickly I moved from the doll house to the bike to the dolly in the box. Tied to each of the bows and attached to each wrapped packaged was one name.
Jesus.
Every gift under our tree came down from the Father of Lights through the Son. Presents under our tree were filled with the presence of God Almighty.
I recognized my mom's writing. I knew she wrote Jesus on every gift, but there was more truth written on that little tag than any other part of Christmas candles, gift exchanges and shimmering lights.
Every Christmas morning since my children were born, I have passed on the same tradition. And my girls ask their classmates who comes to their house on Christmas morning. Upon hearing "Santas" across the table, my girls reply, "Jesus comes to ours."
If you celebrate the same tradition, enjoy these gift tags. They are from Jesus.
:: Click to Download Love Jesus Tags (1.4 MB, PDF)
Christmas morning we are GIFTED with a surpassing present under the tree, the gift of His presence:
"Come, let us worship and bow down, Let us kneel before the LORD our Maker." Psalm 95:6
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Linking to Faith Barista with more stories of Unwrapping Jesus.
Oh my gosh I totally love these! Do you ever participate in Sara's YOU:create thursday?(Gitzengirl.blogspot.com) - you totally should - these are amazing!
Posted by: Jenny | December 14, 2010 at 05:20 AM
What a wonderful idea! :) And those tags are amazing!
Posted by: Melissa Brotherton | December 14, 2010 at 08:55 AM
Love it! Thanks for helping to keep Jesus in Christmas :)
Posted by: Bianca | December 14, 2010 at 10:17 AM
wow cool tags Melissa.. at least with these no one will know who wrote Jesus name.. haha.. but regardless who writes it, Jesus is always the gift giver.. Love this idea.. :D
Posted by: Nora Urich | December 14, 2010 at 04:42 PM
Of COURSE you love this idea, Mom! It was YOURS, silly! Heehee!
Posted by: Madabella | December 14, 2010 at 04:49 PM
love it love it love it!! =)
Posted by: Sarah Markley | December 14, 2010 at 05:04 PM
I love this idea too. And so wish we hadn't started Santa because once you do you're sort of trapped into it. But I believe we can add your tradition as well. Thanks for sharing your beautiful gift tags. I hope you're well!
Posted by: Jackie | December 15, 2010 at 07:17 AM
I think it's never too late to start or even set aside a few gifts that are from Jesus, using James 1:17 as a starting point.
Posted by: Madabella | December 15, 2010 at 10:12 PM
Love this and I totally did this... Thanks for this precious story!
Posted by: Joyce D. | December 16, 2010 at 09:46 AM
lol but I didn't have a computer in those days. hahaaaaa!!!! ;)
Posted by: Nora Urich | December 16, 2010 at 01:10 PM
What a beautiful, beautiful tradition! And so honest. I love it. Thanks for sharing your beautiful tags with us. You are special!
Posted by: Lisa notes... | December 16, 2010 at 02:27 PM
Awesome, Joyce! My kids have shared with friends at school and its just another small way to share the Lord with those around us. Merry Christmas!
Posted by: Madabella | December 16, 2010 at 03:12 PM
Exacttttttly and you thought you were being all sneaky! I was on to you, Mom. But thats okay. I knew that you knew that I knew it was truly from Jesus. Haha!
Posted by: Madabella | December 16, 2010 at 03:14 PM
Thanks, Lisa! Its so sweet to teach our kids to know the Lord and the gifts He brings us. Merry Christmas, friend.
Posted by: Madabella | December 16, 2010 at 03:15 PM
What an amazing tradition! What a lesson to be sewn into young hearts! Thank you for sharing!
Posted by: Sheryl | December 16, 2010 at 11:38 PM
Beautiful. Wow -- this is such a great idea. I love how it reinforces what we've tried to teach our kids all year -- that every gift comes from God. LOVE. IT.
Posted by: Joy | December 17, 2010 at 06:37 AM
This is so beautiful! The story, the tags, the legacy - all so very beautiful. Wow!
Posted by: Godsdreamsforme | December 18, 2010 at 08:35 PM
Thank you so much, Jeri. Hope you are enjoying your Christmas season!
Posted by: Madabella | December 19, 2010 at 10:45 PM
Dear Melissa,
I wanted to make sure I circle back here and thank you for adding this gem of a post to the jam last week -- as you can see, so many of the faith jam bloggers were blessed by how you Unwrap Jesus - incl. me.
Thank you for being a part of God's blessing this year. Keep pouring your words of faith -from an honesty that comes from a love to lift others.
Merry Christmas, Melissa!
Posted by: Bonnie Gray | FaithBarista | December 26, 2010 at 08:50 PM