I just don't get Elf on the Shelf. Maybe that's because I'm not the kind of person who can commit to nor remember to move a stuffed elf around the house every night, let alone set up some adorable but all-too time-consuming mischief that elf has gotten into in the wee hours of the morning, all why I lose sleep.
But beyond that, I just don't see the point. Why do we do this night after night? Just to convince our children Santa is keeping an eye on them all day to bribe them into being good? To me, it seems a little creepy—just like this Studio C clip so beautifully demonstrates:
But where does that leave people who don't want to leave their children out of the Christmas fun but just can't get behind Elf on the Shelf?
Deseret Book just came out with the perfect product—one that embodies all the fun while keeping the focus on Christ and uplifting others. And he's adorable.
The Little Lamb from Bethlehem tells the story of Jesus's miraculous birth from the perspective of one of the lambs in the stable on that sacred night. The lamb loved baby Jesus, and as they both grew, the lamb promised to share Christ's story with everyone. Now the Little Lamb can teach your family about the Savior's life and share ways to follow His example and serve others throughout the Christmas season. Little Lamb is a plush, soft toy that kids will love cuddling with but that also makes Christmas more meaningful as you learn of the Savior, serve others, and celebrate the true spirit of the season with this new Christ-centered tradition!
Not only does Little Lamb come with a beautiful story to read, it also includes a host of fun ideas for your family, such as:
- Give the Little Lamb a note every day expressing love for a family member, and leave him for that family member to find.
- Each Sunday during December, give the Little Lamb a favorite scripture to hold during the day and then read it with your family that night.
- Read John 13:15 and talk about the ways to be the kind of person Jesus would be.
- Hang a stocking for Jesus and fill it with notes for Him.
- Hide the Little Lamb and have your family find him throughout the day. The first who finds him can choose an activity for the family to do together.
- Have Little Lamb arrive each day with the name of a person who you can serve and have your family help decide what nice thing you can do.
For those of you who aren't inclined or don't have the time to start from scratch, like me, here are some fun printables that show what you can do with Little Lamb. Find all the printables and a variety of calendars at littlelambfrombethlehem.com.
The Little Lamb from Bethlehem tells the story of Jesus's miraculous birth from the perspective of one of the lambs in the stable on that sacred night. The lamb loved baby Jesus, and as they both grew, the lamb promised to share Christ's story with everyone. Now the Little Lamb can teach your family about the Savior's life and share ways to follow His example and serve others throughout the Christmas season. Make Christmas more meaningful as you use this little plush lamb to learn of the Savior, serve others, and celebrate the true spirit of the season with this new Christ-centered tradition!
Lead image courtesy of Deseret Book
