Twelve Days of Christmas

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It just so happens this blog is posted on Wednesday, December 14th. There are twelve days until Christmas. Nobody gives “French hens” or “turtle doves” anymore, so I thought I would reinvent the familiar Christmas song for my readers today. If a Christian wrote this song for the holiday season, what might those lyrics be?

Twelve Days of Christ’s Birth

On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me: a baby in a manger.

On the second day of Christmas my true love gave to me: two parents praying with a baby in a manger.

On the third day of Christmas my true love gave to me: three wise men traveling, two parents praying with a baby in a manger.

On the fourth day of Christmas my true love gave to me: four shepherds kneeling, three wise men traveling, two parents praying with a baby in a manger.

On the fifth day of Christmas my true love gave to me: five golden words, four shepherds kneeling, three wise me traveling, two parents praying with a baby in a manger.

On the sixth day of Christmas my true love gave to me: six days for giving, five golden words; four shepherds kneeling, three wise men traveling, two parents praying with a baby in a manger.

On the seventh day of Christmas my true love gave to me: seven peace-filled moments, six days for giving, five golden words, four shepherds kneeling, three wise men traveling, two parents praying with a baby in a manger.

On the eighth day of Christmas my true love gave to me: eight needs for meeting, seven peace-filled moments, six days for giving, five golden words, four shepherds kneeling, three wise men traveling, two parents praying with a baby in a manger.

On the ninth day of Christmas my true love gave to me: nine souls who’re dancing, eight needs for meeting, seven peace-filled moments, six days for giving, five golden words, four shepherds kneeling, three wise men traveling, two parents praying with a baby in a manger.

On the tenth day of Christmas my true love gave to me: ten friends to think of, nine souls who’re dancing, eight needs for meeting, seven peace-filled moments, six days for giving, five golden words, four shepherds kneeling, three wise men traveling, two parents praying with a baby in a manger.

On the eleventh day of Christmas my true love gave to me: eleven reasons for praising, ten friends to think of, nine souls who’re dancing, eight needs for meeting, seven peace-filled moments, six days for giving, five golden words, four shepherds kneeling, three wise men traveling, two parents praying with a baby in a manger.

On the twelfth day of Christmas my true love gave to me: twelve months to plan for, eleven reasons for praising, ten friends to think of, nine souls who’re dancing, eight needs for meeting, seven peace-filled moments, six days for giving, five golden words, four shepherds kneeling, three wise men traveling, two parents praying with a baby in a manger.

I hope we will all spend the remaining twelve days of Christmas singing to “the reason for the season.” These are those five golden words: “I am the true vine” (John 15:1). Our “true love” is God, our Father. He proved his love to us by giving us Jesus, the baby in a manger, who was and is the “true vine.” Jesus made a promise to the apostles that remains our promise today. He said “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full” (John 15:9–11).

Wishing you and yours twelve days of Christmas joy!



Join us at www.christianparenting.org and chime in on this week’s discussion question
: How do you emphasize to your children that Jesus is the central focus of Christmas?

Posted by Janet Denison

Janet Denison teaches others to live an authentic faith through her writing, speaking, and teaching ministry. She blogs weekly at JanetDenison.org and often at ChristianParenting.org. She is also the author of The Songs Tell the Story and Content to Be Good, Called to Be Godly, among other books. Janet and her husband, Dr. Jim Denison, live in Dallas, Texas. When they’re not writing or ministering to others, they enjoy spending time with their grown children and their four still-growing grandchildren.