2013, 99p, Non-Fiction, Christmas
My Rating=5 Stars
Source: Received a copy from the publisher for an honest review
Christmas is a time for celebrating the birth of Christ and a time for giving. In the middle of this busy season, it is easy to forget the very reason why we celebrate. The first Christmas began with gifts of light and gold. This Christmas ask: What gifts can I give to Him?
In 12 Gifts for Christ, author Merrilee Boyack suggests ways we can give to the Savior, including having gratitude, sharing through service, and loving others. With examples of these gifts shared through personal stories, scriptures, activities, and family home evening lessons, she suggests presenting those gifts to Christ in letters placed in stockings or brightly wrapped boxes. Following the ideas of this book will truly add joy to the spirit in our hearts and homes during Christmas!
I love the ideas in this book! I originally thought this would be a great December activity but after reading it, I personally would feel too rushed trying to get everything done in one month. In the Introduction, she mentions that you may choose to have twelve Family Home Evenings where the entire family focuses on one gift a week or month. I like that idea so it will give more time to focus on each gift. She also states that we are certainly not limited to these twelve ideas but hopes that this will simply be a place to start.
Each chapter starts with her thoughts about each gift, then she gives ideas for Personal Scripture Study, Family Devotional, Family Home Evening and Just for Christmas! I think she provides a good variety of activities which can be adapted for all age ranges.
The twelve gifts are:
* The Gift of Personal Knowledge
* The Gift of Gratitude
* The Gift of Remembrance
* The Gift of Repentance
* The Gift of Obedience
* The Gift of Emulation
* The Gift of Charity
* The Gift of Forgiveness
* The Gift of Faithfulness
* The Gift of Love
* The Gift of a Healing Balm
* The Gift of Joy
In the Conclusion, she gives ideas for starting new family traditions and states, "The important part of the process is to focus on Him and to help you remember Him." With that goal in mind, this is a great resource which I plan to use all year!
Merrilee Boyack is a crazed woman who loves eating out and taking naps when she can. She is an estate-planning attorney who conducts her law practice from home. She graduated from Brigham Young University with a degree in business management—finance, and from University of Santa Clara Law School. Merrilee is also a professional lecturer, featured for many years at BYU Education Week, and a published author. Her interests include reading, camping, talking, eating, and helping children in Africa. She’s now a pesco-vegetarian and is having to relearn how to cook!
She is the author of several books and talks, including The Parenting Breakthrough, Strangling Your Husband Is Not an Option; Toss the Guilt and Catch the Joy; and her most recent, In Trying Times, Just Keep Trying. Merrilee and her husband, Steve, reside in Poway, California, and have four sons, one grandson, and a granddaughter on the way!
1 comments:
Love your review!! It was a really good book and I keep thinking about it and ways to incorporate it into my life.
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