Jesus’ premiere at a Bethlehem stable didn’t get much attention at first…, aside from a sky full of angels and some disheveled shepherds. Yet 2000 years later most folks around the world recognize it as the Christmas story—whether they believe it or not—and it’s often considered the most memorable scene in the Bible.

As children’s ministry leaders we probably devote more lessons to the Christmas story that to any other story. We teach kids carols, conduct choirs, practice plays, and make props. We create crafts, frost cookies, and pass out candy canes. And sometimes we get so busy teaching the meaning of Christmas that our own sense of joy and wonder gets lost under the sheet music, the scripts, the crafts, and the candy. As a result, although our mouths are singing “Joy, Joy, Joy!” sometimes our hearts are singing “January, January, January!”

Here’s the good news. The story of Jesus’ birth is one scene in God’s story of redemption and restoration. All the stories you’ve been telling your kids each week at church till now and all the stories you’ll be learning together after Christmas are part of that big story about what God has done, is doing, and will continue to do.

May you experience God’s richest blessings as you live into that story in the coming year.