Our Family Jesse Tree

Over the last three years we have done a Jesse Tree with our girls. Over these few years this tradition has grown very dear to my heart! It has been such a blessing to watch, with each year that passes, our girls learn more and more about why it is we celebrate Christmas.

We first learned about this tradition while we were living in Southern California when our senior pastor shared it with the congregation. Then a group of women got together to make and exchange the ornaments that go along with this tree. This is our second Christmas here in Indiana (away from California). Everyone at our last church hold a very special place in our hearts, it is fun to remember each lady/family who made each of the ornaments as we put them on our tree.

Each December we go through "The Advent Jesse Tree" by Dean Lambert. Starting on the 1st of December and leading up to the 25th. We do a devotional out of this book and then place the corresponding ornament on our little Jesse Tree. Each devotional has scripture to look up, questions to answer, suggested songs to sing and a prayer.

Each devotional helps trace and explain God's plan of salvation from Creation by detailing the heritage and lineage of Jesus Christ. It is wonderful to see through these devotions how God thought and planned out every small detail of Christ's birth and on up to his death on the cross. As Paul says in 2 Corinthians 9:15 God's gift of His Son is truly an "indescribable gift".

This tradition is a highlight of our days leading up to Christmas. It helps us to pause amidst all the hustle and bustle of the holiday season and focus on Christ's birth and why it is we are celebrating His birth. It is a true blessing to see our girls answer the questions given in the book and with each year watch their knowledge and understanding grow.