“For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.” – Psalm 91:11*
Tonight, as I tucked my not-so-little girl into bed, my heart felt heavier than usual. You see, fellow mamas, I just placed our beloved Angel’s gift out for what I believe might be the last time. After eight beautiful Christmas seasons, our special tradition is gently coming to a close, much like a cherished bedtime story reaching its final chapter.
Let me take you back to 2016. My husband and I watched our precious two-year-old’s eyes sparkle with Christmas wonder, but we noticed something was missing. While she delighted in the twinkling lights and shiny packages, she hadn’t yet grasped the true star of the season – Jesus. While many of our friends were jumping on the Elf on the Shelf bandwagon, we felt called to create something different. Something that would weave the magic of childhood with the miracle of Christ’s birth.
“Train up a child in the way she should go, and when she is old she will not depart from it.” – Proverbs 22:6
That’s when Angel was born. I wrote a children’s book through the eyes of my daughter’s guardian angel, explaining the beautiful symbols of Christmas. But Angel didn’t just tell stories – she brought them to life. Every December morning, she’d return from her nightly mission of spreading Christmas cheer with supplies for Emily to create heartfelt gifts for others. Each weekend, we’d bundle up and deliver these treasures throughout our neighborhood, watching my little girl’s face light up as she shared God’s love with others.
The tradition evolved with magical moments I never could have planned. When COVID locked us all away in spring 2020, Angel made a special appearance as my daughter’s only a visiting friend for her birthday party. She even learned to play hide-and-seek with gifts because that’s what my daughter loved most. She became my way of making an intangible God tangible for my little one.
Now at 10, my daughter’s analytical mind is piecing things together. She studies the handwriting on Angel’s notes, comparing them to mine. She’s navigating that delicate space between wanting to believe and knowing the truth. It reminds me of my own journey as a mama – wanting to preserve the magic while nurturing a growing faith.
Some might question why I created this elaborate tradition. Why not just stick with Santa or an Elf? When Emily asked this over the years, I simply told her she was blessed with an Angel instead. I even tried marketing the idea once but quickly pulled back. This wasn’t meant to be commercialized – it was our sacred tradition, our piece of Christmas magic unique to our family.
Those early morning moments watching her discover Angel’s notes, the joy of delivering handmade gifts together, the special birthday cake for Jesus on Christmas Eve – they’ve woven a tapestry of memories I pray she’ll cherish forever.
To the mama reading this who might be wondering if your “extra” traditions are worth it – they are. Whether it’s an elaborate Angel tradition or simple bedtime prayers centered around the Christmas story found in Luke, these moments matter. They’re the threads that connect our children’s hearts to the greater story of God’s love.
Soon, my daughter will fully understand that it was her mama behind Angel’s visits all along. But my deepest hope is that she’ll see beyond the handwriting and recognize the love that inspired every note, every gift, every magical moment. That she’ll understand how desperately I wanted to show her that she is watched over, loved, and protected – not just by her earthly mama, but by her Heavenly Father, too.
And maybe, just maybe, when she has little ones of her own, she’ll remember how it felt to be loved so intentionally, and she’ll create her own kind of magic for them.