The Joy of Handmade Christmas Ornaments

There are millions of selections of decorations for your Christmas tree and surrounding décor but what about making your ornaments for next year. By simple internet search, you can find simple or elaborate patterns for many items with which to decorate. or go to a craft store for instruction books. Or just get creative and have fun! The possibilities are endless!

• Tinfoil stars twinkling in the light.

•   Shiny foil snowflakes gently turning sending myriads of sparklers around the room.
• Colorful paper or felt crafts dangling merrily from branches.
• Pipe cleaners, empty paper rolls, scraps of Christmas wrap and glitter all fashioned into Holiday Happiness by yours, and the hands of your children.
• Popcorn, Cranberries, Apple slices, twists of Holly leaves, and Beads, all strung into festive garlands to wrap around a tree hung with homemade Reindeer, Santas, Nutcrackers, Bulbs, Hats, Mittens, Sleighs, Globes, Animals, Doodads, Doohickeys and Thing-a-ma-jigs, Nativities, Magi, and Baby Jesus, all with love and care.

Among the reasons for homemade decor is the wealth of quality family strength, emotion and togetherness. The tree is usually the central focus of Christmas. It is where the most fun happens. The cameras come out to record the moments as paper flies in all directions. Faces light up and laughter peels throughout the house. Children of any age get involved with the joy of giving and receiving. It’s the best family gathering for anyone.

There is another Family involved in Christmas: God the Father sending His Son Jesus into the world as His gift. The first Family and the First Gift.

There is another Christmas Tree: the Cross. Jesus came for only that purpose. Jesus came only to that destiny.

        He did not come to be a Good Teacher. 

• He did not come to start a religion. 

• He did not come to make people better. 

• He did not come to write a book of rules and regulations.

Jesus came to die on a tree. Jesus came to take the wrath of the Father for the sin of the world. An innocent man died for all the guilty so that God could forgive the guilty through that man’s humble, willing sacrifice in the place of all the guilty.

“For the wages of sin is death…” Romans 6: 23

“…But the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” Romans 6:23

You can’t have the second part without the first. You can’t have the gift of eternal life unless the wage of sin is paid.

That Tree—The Cross—was all the PAYMENT God required.

Yes, the Tree is the central part of Christmas. Let us gather around it every year and think of that baby born in a Bethlehem manger. 

“For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given;…”

Isaiah 9:6

Starting in January, fashion your homemade ornaments for your tree; the care and work will remind you of the loving hands of God placing His Son into the hands of Mary and ultimately into the hands of those who nailed Him to the cross where He came to die.

Maybe you say that makes no sense? Maybe you say you cannot accept what God did? Maybe you say it's too horible to consider? Well, what else can God do for you?

• Isn't giving and receiving what Christmas has taught you?

What gift could God give you other than the offer of eternal life because He chose to give His Son, even though you never asked Him to do it?

That is the joy of Christmas!

The things you make with your hands from the heart are beautiful.Make your next Christmas beautiful with your own hands.