Advent Day 4: A Light to the World

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!

“You’ll never capture me!” Ava yelled to her friend Jack. They were in Ava’s backyard pretending to be medieval knights.

“On my noble steed, you’ll never outlast me!” cried a galloping Jack.

As Jack caught up to Ava, they both drew foam swords and shields. “On my honor as a knight, you’ll never get your hands on the king’s treasure!” Ava stood with her hands square on her hips, proudly showing off her knight’s tunic over her pink leggings.

The door to Ava’s house opened. “Ava, it’s time to come in!” Mom called.

Ava lowered her sword and shield. “This was fun!” she said.

“Yeah! Let’s meet here again tomorrow to play some more!” Jack said, shivering. “We don’t have much time before it’ll be too cold to play outside.”

When Ava entered her house, the warm smells of oregano and garlic bread greeted her. She had forgotten Dad said it was spaghetti night! Ava found her mom sorting through a box of candles. “What are you doing?” Ava asked.

“Putting a candle in each window of our home,” said Mom. “Candles are often used during Advent to help prepare our hearts for Christmas. I thought it would be a good tradition to start.”

“To prepare for the presents we’re gonna get?” Ava asked with a grin.

“No, goofball, to prepare for the gift of Jesus!” Dad said, giving Ava a silly eye-roll from where he stood stirring the tomato sauce. “Let me put it another way. I know you love history, so I’ll tell you how people think the custom of candles in windows at Christmastime may have started. In the Middle Ages, the light of a single, large candle was used to represent the Star of Bethlehem, which is what led the wise men to seek and find Jesus. Shining out from a window at the coldest time of year, it reminded people to seek the King who came to earth as a baby so we could have His warmth and light in our lives.”

“And that’s not something we remember only at Christmas,” Mom said, holding out a candle for Ava to put in the window. “Jesus became human and sacrificed Himself so we could be saved. That’s something to celebrate all year long.”

How about you?

How does your family prepare for Christmas? Do you put up a tree? String lights up outside? Those are great things to do, but you can also prepare by thanking Jesus for the sacrifice He made when He came to earth as a baby so He could one day die for our sins. When the world was dark and cold, He came and shined His light on us. How can you share His warmth with others this Christmas—and every other time of year?

Key Verse

“Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, ‘I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.'” John 8:12 NKJV

Key Thought

Jesus is the light of the world

Further Reading

Psalm 27:1