Book Review: Welcome Baby Jesus
Welcome Baby Jesus: Advent and Christmas Reflections for Families by Sarah A. Reinhard is a beautiful resource to help families prepare for the coming of Jesus at Christmas.
The length of this booklet is ideal and perfectly manageable, even in the busiest of schedules at the the busiest time of year. All you need is a few moments each day to come together as a family and read an insightful page or two. (You could even do this before, during, or after a meal.)
Each reading contains a short Bible verse, wise words for thought, a prayer, and an act—something concrete we and/or our children can attempt that day to help prepare our hearts, homes, and souls for Jesus (such as helping someone, giving up something, or making a gift for someone).
You will find a treasure trove of reflections in Welcome Baby Jesus. And while the readings are encouraging, enlightening, and inspiring, they remain entertaining and simple enough to use with children—a great alternative to the modern Advent custom of opening a numbered door to grab a piece of chocolate! Instead of giving to ourselves, we can give to Jesus.
My two kids and I looked forward to using Welcome Baby Jesus each day, and we incorporated it as a part of our homeschool routine. Not only do the pages guide you through a spiritually beneficial Advent season, they continue through the rejoicing of Christmas, the Octave of Christmas, and the Epiphany.
In a world consumed by commercialism, this colorful booklet shines with the message of the true meaning of Christmas. I highly recommend Welcome Baby Jesus as a valuable spiritual resource for all Catholics!
Welcome Baby Jesus is available as a booklet and as a Kindle ebook.