December 17, 2025 – Let Every Heart (and Homeschool) Prepare Him Room

Mercy Every Minute

Deborah Wuehler, TOS Senior Editor

The Christmas Tree Or The Tree of Calvary?

This season can be stressful as it adds to my already full life, but it sure helps if I would remain in a spirit of celebration in all I do and prepare, knowing I am celebrating my Savior, Jesus Christ. 

Instead of celebrating the celebration, I need to focus on celebrating Christ, the Messiah. Here are Seven Reasons to Celebrate Even if You Don’t Feel like It. 

Preparing room for Him may mean clearing out other things that aren’t focused on Him. It starts with consciously allowing Him in. He stands at the door and knocks. He wants to be with us. Throughout the Scriptures, you will hear this plea repeated, “Come to me.” So, before we sing “Oh, Come All Ye Faithful” we need to come to The Faithful One and “adore Him, Christ the King.” 

The red flag of stress should be the signal to bend the knee in worship and adoration. Adoration takes pause. But the pause reminds us what the season is about. 

Pause, and turn your focus from the Christmas tree to the tree of Calvary. Believe it or not, you will find more hope in the latter than the former. And in this stressful time, you will meet the Prince of Peace. True peace can be yours even today. You can put the government of your life on His shoulders. He’d love to take that from you. He came to bring, “Peace on earth and goodwill to men” . . . and especially to you . . . today. 

“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6).

To help every heart prepare Him room, here are Twelve Names of Christ with activities to do with the children. Or visit Bible.com and find the same title as a daily reading plan. 

~Deborah

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GUEST CONTRIBUTOR

Visual Manna

Creativity and Family Fun Ideas to Save Money

Christmas is a time for special creativity and fun! Shopping at thrift stores can be a treasure hunt. For most of the following ideas you just need acrylic paint, sandpaper, and spray varnish. 

If you find a wooden chair for sale, personalize it and paint it for someone special. Paintings on canvas found at thrift stores give kids an opportunity to make them into something that is their own. They can use part of the original painting and add to it. (Many master artists reused canvases.) They can also paint an older ceramic piece, a vintage window, or a glass bottle. Instruction details are on my YouTube channel. Another interesting surface that is fun to paint on or experiment with is an old vinyl record. Google the recording and listen to the music as you paint. Miniature paintings on tiny canvases are also fun to create; make something out of a thumbprint. Put your creation on a tiny easel and you have your gift. Using old hymnals to illustrate a hymn is another beautiful idea. I know a person who glued the song page “I Come to the Garden Alone,” onto a canvas and then painted what the hymn meant to them; decoupage is a lost art. Do you have a child who is mechanical? Give them a broken piece of technology and the tools to fix it, and then have them write about the experience.

From quilting, to making necklaces out of dried potatoes, painting gourds or an apple head, or making woven dolls, ideas abound on my free YouTube channel for creating original gifts. Most lessons include information about master artists and techniques in different media. There are over ninety lessons with additions weekly for all ages, along with detailed instructions. Art Creativity and Fun for Everyone – YouTube. Enjoy art!

Holman® Gift Guide—Make Christmas even more meaningful with Bibles designed to enhance their reading experience. Shop the gift guide now!

Roger Smith

Busy, Busy, Busy

My brother-in-law, who is mentally handicapped, works in the hospital laundry department. If you ask him how work was today, expect him to answer, “Busy, busy, busy!”

The holiday push from Thanksgiving to New Year’s Day is the same.

There is often no room for the Christ-child as we celebrate His coming. We need to find ways to fix that.

Jesus instructed, “Give a cup of cold water (or hot chocolate) in My name.”  We should do that to our neighbors, or to strangers. Children often see simple, easy ways to “let your light shine.” So, consider asking the children how your family could do that. 

Last summer, my grandchildren had a lemonade stand in their neighborhood, and found great pleasure in treating passersby. Maybe your children could find a table, sign, and enthusiasm to share hot chocolate from a thermos, along with some kind words to bless innocent passersby this holiday season. 

This small act of kindness could make room for the Savior’s love in the hearts of children, parents, grandparents, and neighbors. Small things we do in life often make the most permanent memories and keep us warm inside. Even when life is ‘Busy, busy, busy!”

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About the author

Dr. Roger Smith is a family doctor in rural Louisiana, where he and his wife, Jan, raised four adventurous children who are all grown, making their own mark in the world. He speaks and writes on parenting issues and produces brief videos that can be found on Facebook @ParentingMattersNow.

Personalized Music Boxes, Plaques and Bookmarks! Come discover a treasure of encouragement at www.Meaning.Name and enter to WIN a FREE name meaning coffee mug!

Christine Weller

Let Every Heart (and Homeschool) Prepare Him Room

As the Christmas season approaches, the hustle and bustle of holiday activities can quickly fill our calendars and minds. In the midst of the busyness, it’s easy to lose sight of the heart of the season—making room for Jesus, not just in our homes but in our homeschools.

Homeschooling offers the perfect opportunity to focus on Christ during this special time of year. With a little intentionality, you can transform your homeschool into a space where your family can grow closer to Jesus while celebrating His birth.

Start with Scripture: Begin each day by reading the Christmas story from the Bible. Reflect on passages like Isaiah 9:6 or Luke 2:10–14 to center your hearts on the true meaning of Christmas.

Incorporate Christ-Centered Lessons: Use Christmas themes in your curriculum. Study the geography of Bethlehem, create art inspired by the Nativity, or explore the history of beloved carols. These activities keep Jesus at the center while integrating learning.

Serve Together: As a family, look for ways to serve others. Whether it’s donating to a local food bank, baking treats for neighbors, or writing cards for the elderly, acts of kindness reflect Christ’s love and teach your children the joy of giving.

Simplify and Reflect: Avoid overloading your schedule. Create quiet moments to pray, sing carols, or simply reflect on God’s gift of His Son. Teach your children that Christmas isn’t about perfection but about His presence.

This season, let your homeschool be a reflection of a heart prepared for Jesus. By prioritizing faith, family, and a spirit of worship, you can create lasting memories and instill in your children the joy and hope found in Christ. Let every heart—and homeschool—prepare Him room.

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About the author

Christine Weller has been homeschooling her two boys, 10 and 6, since birth in the lovely province of Ontario, Canada. She is also a mom blogger and children’s book author. She is currently working to support homeschoolers everywhere through various roles at The Old Schoolhouse®.

Beth Mora

Christmas Discipleship!

Set aside the trimmings and trappings of a store-bought Christmas. Consumerism takes a back seat because, as for me and my homeschool family, we choose to look to the Rock of our Salvation, who came in the smallest of packages —a babe lying in a manger. We are not only going to tune our minds to the most amazing event ever, but also look for ways to share the good news —the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Each child, from toddler to adult children, is given the gift of discipleship. It’s a moment to unwrap the story and have a conversation, correct misinformation, and marvel together at the goodness of God. We open God’s Word and read the account of Jesus’ birth. We take time to zoom in on the details and miracles that surrounded His birth. Then we zoom out and look at Genesis to Revelation and the recurring themes of mankind’s sin, God’s fierce faithfulness, and continuous grace for all who call on the name of Jesus.

And because God lavished His great love on us, we are challenged to share generously all that we have, materially and spiritually, as we live with heightened awareness that we live in a fallen world that desperately needs Jesus. The challenge is to be bold and filled with love, grace, and truth. It’s a time to pray for unsaved family and friends. It’s a time to reach out to neighbors and invite them to church.

All of this takes place through the unforced rhythms of family dinner conversations, taking walks in the chilled air, baking cookies, and drinking hot chocolate. We decorate our home, inside and outside, with banners declaring God’s glory. We send Christmas cards to as many people as we know, presenting the Gospel message according to scripture. We open space for Jesus. Yes, it’s simple, and it’s wonderful! 

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About the author

Beth Mora is a staff writer for The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine, LLC and lesson designer for www.Schoolhouseteachers.com. She is the creator/teacher-on-camera for Here to Help Learning’s Homeschool Writing Program Grades 1-6, and a homeschool conference and women’s events speaker. Meet up with Beth at Home To Home, one of her favorite places to encourage. Everything she does, whether laughable or heart-gripping, is done to honor her Lord and Savior, Jesus. God’s grace is the salve that has healed her own life and is what she offers liberally to others. Did you know, Here to Help Learning’s Writing Program Grades 1-6 is part of your subscription to SchoolhouseTeachers.com subscription?

Bring your homeschool’s focus back to Christ this season with videos, lessons, and activities in the Christmas Corner on SchoolhouseTeachers.com. This family-friendly content helps hearts and homes prepare Him room.