For a child will be born for us, a son will be given to us, and the government will be on his shoulders. He will be named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. The dominion will be vast, and its prosperity will never end. He will reign on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish and sustain it with justice and righteousness from now on and forever. The zeal of the LORD of Armies will accomplish this. (Isaiah 9:6-7 CSB)
The Christmas season as a parent can feel like you're juggling a thousand things at once. There are gifts to wrap, cookies to bake, school programs to attend, and somehow you're supposed to keep the magic alive while also pointing your kids to Jesus. Between the toy catalogs and the endless requests for the latest must-have item, it's easy to wonder if the real story of Christmas is getting lost in the shuffle. Here's the truth that cuts through all the noise: the baby born in Bethlehem is the best gift ever given, and He's good news for everyone in your family.
Think about how long people waited for this gift. Isaiah prophesied about Jesus hundreds of years before that first Christmas night. Generations of parents told their children about the promised Messiah, wondering if they'd be the ones to see Him. And then Micah narrowed it down even further, prophesying that Bethlehem would be the birthplace of the ruler of Israel. God wasn't vague about His promise. He gave specific details and then, at exactly the right time, He delivered. While your kids are making their Christmas lists and counting down the days, you get to tell them about the gift that God had planned all along.
As you string lights and set up the nativity scene this year, look at those names Isaiah gives us: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. These aren't just poetic titles for a Christmas card. They're descriptions of what Jesus brings into your home right now. When you're stressed about making Christmas perfect, He's your Wonderful Counselor. When you're worried about finances or family drama during the holidays, He's Mighty God. When you're exhausted from all the doing and feel like you're failing, He's Eternal Father. When your house is chaotic and everyone's emotions are running high, He's Prince of Peace. The baby in the manger grew up to be everything you need in this season and every season after.
The most beautiful part of the Christmas story is that Jesus didn't come just for the religious people who had it all figured out. He came for shepherds and wise men, for Mary and Joseph in their uncertainty, for every person who would ever need a Savior. That means He came for your family exactly as you are. He came for your strong-willed preschooler, your anxious middle schooler, your questioning teenager. He came for you in your imperfect parenting. The good news of Christmas isn't that you have to get everything right. It's that God gave us Jesus anyway.
This Christmas, as you watch your kids' faces light up over presents, take a moment to point them back to the greatest gift. Help them see that the baby born in Bethlehem wasn't just a sweet story. He was God's kept promise, and He's good news for them, for their friends, for every single person they'll ever meet. That's the kind of gift that doesn't lose its shine after the wrapping paper is cleaned up. That's the gift that changes everything.
