When we learned of a Christmas tradition my neighbor has with her family, we adopted it.

To make sure our daughter would put emphasis on Jesus’ birth rather than gifts, we talk about the reason for the season and, to put it in her terms, we celebrated baby Jesus’ birthday.

On Christmas eve we bake a red velvet cake together, talk about the meaning of Christmas and the amazing love our heavenly father has for all of us.

When we pour red dye into the cake batter, we talk about the blood that Jesus shed for our sins and the beautiful gift He gave us of an eternal life.

Once the cake is baked, we prepare the butter cream frosting. As we spread it on the cake, we talk about Jesus’ purity represented by the white.

Christmas morning, our daughter wakes up and comes to us for her first clue to a scavenger hunt.

Throughout the house she finds each clue which includes the nativity story leading to baby Jesus.

Then we put a candle on the cake and sing Him happy birthday. Her first thought on Christmas is about baby Jesus and not her presents.

We cut a slice of cake and a cup of coffee for daddy and enjoy her opening her Christmas presents.

What a delight to emphasize Christ in Christmas.

For more Christmas stories, please see Page B10.