Advent Day 1: Timeless Traditions

Thank you for joining Keys for Kids Radio’s Countdown to Christmas Advent Activity! Read the story below, answer the questions on the discussion guide, and send us a voice message on the Christmas Message Machine!

Noel reached up high on her tiptoes and placed a sparkling silver bell on an empty tree branch. “Look, Gi-Gi! Just a few more branches and we’re finished!”

Noel’s great-grandmother smiled at her excitement. “Noel, I enjoy this tradition of decorating with you every year. It’s amazing how high you can reach now!” Gi-Gi chuckled. “I remember when you could hardly hang that bell on the lowest branch.”

Grandpapa waltzed in with the angel tree topper. “Are we ready for the final touch?”

“Wait!” said Gi-Gi. “I have one more ornament to add!”

Grandpapa winked at Noel and whispered, “Gi-Gi always has something new up her sleeve.” His eyes bulged in surprise as Gi-Gi pulled an ornament out of her actual sleeve. “Guess it’s not just an expression!”

Noel giggled. She carefully took the ornament from Gi-Gi’s hand. “It says ‘Wonderful Counselor’—oh, like the verse about Jesus from Isaiah that we learned last Christmas!”

Gi-Gi nodded. “Every year we have special traditions—decorating the tree on the first day of December, receiving a new ornament that represents something you enjoy, baking a birthday cake in honor of Jesus—those are just a few of my favorites. This year, I wanted to add one more. Do you remember what advent is, Noel?”

“Yep! It’s preparing our hearts for the coming of Jesus. Even though He already came, we take the month before Christmas to remember why He was born and to celebrate Him.”

“Absolutely! There are many different ways to celebrate, but I wanted to start a new tradition. I want us to reflect on some of the names of Jesus—twenty-five, to be exact. Every day, we will add a new ornament with a name for Jesus to our tree.”

Noel ran her finger over the gold lettering of the ornament. “‘Wonderful Counselor’—that describes how Jesus is here anytime I need to talk to Him. Whenever I’m upset, scared, or happy, I know He will always be there to listen and help me through hard times.”

“He sure is the best counselor,” Grandpapa agreed thoughtfully. “I suppose tomorrow’s ornament will be ‘Mighty God’?”

Gi-Gi tossed a fake snowball at Grandpapa. “Let’s focus on one name per day, mister!”

Grandpapa winked at Noel. “Yes, ma’am!”

How about you?

What Christmas traditions does your family have? Do you set up a nativity scene in your house? Or buy gifts for children in need? Traditions can help remind us of what Christmas is truly about—celebrating Jesus coming to earth as a baby to save us. What can you and your family do each year as a reminder of who Jesus is and what He did for us?

Key Thought

Use traditions to celebrate Jesus.

Key Verse

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given… And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6 NIV

Further Reading

John 14:6-18