Show Notes

I remember one holiday in particular

As we spoke on the last podcast: Christian holidays, while designed to be celebratory, and the expectations are usually very high, can be very challenging. As men we let it sneak up on us and are unprepared to do anything except rush them. Or we can spend so much time on the social calendar that it hardly seems like Christmas at all; we often delegate most of the family holiday part to our wife so then we become just a passenger, or the proactive approach is that you and your wife can take some time to talk about the holiday and plan. This allows you to be intentional about what you and your family want to accomplish thru this very important Christmas Holiday. It is what can make it meaningful and lasting for your entire family. If you have not yet listened to the previous episode, #20 How to Make the Most of Your Holidays, take a minute as we give some outstanding tips to help you navigate the holidays. You can go to our website and pull it up, or grab it wherever you normally consume a podcast.

So today: let’s have some fun talking about Holiday memories.

What were the holidays like around your house growing up?

What is a good holiday for you and your family — a happy time?

How many kids were in your family when you were growing up — where did you fit in the family?

Where did you live?

Was your family Christian?

What was at the center of these holidays?

What were some of the traditions?

How did you decorate? Inside and out?

When did you open your gifts? Why do you think that was?

Have you carried any of these traditions forward?

What role did your father play in the Holiday?

Is Christmas a holiday for men? Think about the things involved here: A baby involved (with two showers, shepherds, and Wise men) gift planning and giving, wrapping gifts (ugh — and thank God for gift bags).

What can we do to make this a more masculine holiday?

Lead or participate in the task-oriented portion — go hunting for specific gifts for your family, take your kids with you and go shopping for gifts for mom/wife (not amazon), put up the tree as a family, put up the lights on the house (if you do that), lead your family in discussions about the Reason for the Season…

Questions to ask and share with your family:

1. What is the best memory you have of the holidays? What was it like growing up? What were your traditions?
2. What was one challenging memory around the holidays and why? Frame it in a way your kids (if you have them), or your friend will get some insight into past pain with Holidays. It is not all tinsel and lights.
3. What will you do to help your loved ones not experience that kind of pain?
4. What part does and should God play in our Christmas holiday?

Men – make some memories with your kids this holiday season, that have a lifetime impact.

Highlighted Resource

The Great Shepherd, by Jim Grassi

Save 25% with coupon code: TGS-449-25

Expires: January 15, 2023

About Wendell Morton

Rev. Morton graduated from Western Evangelical Seminary with a BA in Religious Education and a Master of Counseling Psychology, Rev. Morton was in full-time ministry for 17 years with both small and large churches. He spent four of those ministry years with Promise Keepers. He was the the US representative to PK Canada – serving on the PK Canada Board.

Wendell also spent 23 years in Corporate America. He built and led sales teams that worked with very small businesses and other groups that worked with Fortune 500 companies. He is gifted at helping identifying the next generation of leaders as well as helping those around him being successful.

Rev. Morton has a passion to help pastors and church leaders build growing churches. Having men come alongside the vision of the pastor, build a dynamic team, create a plan, and execute the model of “each one brings one” has been proven effective for more than 2,000 years. This approach is a great way for every local church in North America to grow while helping men better understand biblical manhood.