A Stocking-Stuffer Christmas Story
By Sherry Fiscella

It’s easy to get caught up in a “Here-Comes-Santa-Claus” kind of Christmas. One way to focus on the real meaning of Christmas is by telling the story of Jesus’ birthday with five fun stocking stuffers.

After gathering the stocking stuffers suggested below, wrap and number them in the order listed. Next, place the items in a single stocking or distribute them among family members’ stockings.

On Christmas morning, help your children unwrap the gifts in numerical order. Use each item as a prompt to tell a portion of the Christmas story.

Stocking Stuffers:

1. Angel ornament: This Christmas ornament reminds me of the angel, Gabriel, who told a young lady named Mary that God had chosen her to be the mother of a special baby boy. The angel told Mary to name the baby “Jesus.”
2. Small box of blocks: These remind me of a builder. Joseph, who promised Mary that he would be her husband, was a builder. While baby Jesus was still in Mary’s tummy, Joseph and Mary took a trip to Bethlehem, a town that was far away. 
3. Animal crackers: When Joseph and Mary arrived in Bethlehem, there was no room left in any of the hotels. Instead, they stayed in a stable, a cave where animals were kept. These animal crackers remind me of the animals that might have lived in that stable.
4. A pacifier-shaped lollipop or a baby doll item: This reminds me of a baby. The most special baby ever born was God’s own Son, Jesus! Baby Jesus was born while Joseph and Mary were staying in that stable in Bethlehem. 
5. A soft pair of socks or mittens: These soft socks remind me of wooly sheep. An angel visited some shepherds who were watching their wooly sheep near where Jesus was born. The angel told the shepherds to find baby Jesus. After finding the newborn Savior, the shepherds told lots of people the good news. I’m glad I can share the good news about Jesus with you this Christmas, too!