Podcast Summary

Podcast: Focus on the Family with Jim Daly
Episode: Discover the Joy of Advent with Your Child
Date: November 28, 2025
Guests: David and Julie Lavender

Episode Overview

This episode explores the power and purpose of Advent within Christian families, focusing on practical, tradition-rich ways to center children on the true meaning of Christmas. Hosts Jim Daly and John Fuller are joined by David and Julie Lavender—authors, educators, and parents—to discuss their newly released devotional, Children’s Advent Stories for Bedtime, and to share family stories, traditions, and advice for infusing Christ’s hope and anticipation into the Christmas season.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Family Traditions & Advent Activities

• Ornaments & Memories (01:01-01:25):

  • The hosts recall treasured family moments, highlighting the importance of ornaments and surprise gifts as memory-markers.

• The Heart of Christmas (02:14-02:29):

  • Jim Daly emphasizes refocusing on “the story of Christmas…the idea that God gave his only son for the entire world. To have salvation.”

• Personalized Calendars for Encouragement (05:46-07:07):

  • Julie Lavender describes creating custom calendars filled with daily notes of affirmation for each child, sometimes as New Year's gifts.
  • Quote, Julie (06:41):
    "On those days when maybe I didn’t feel so good as a mom…I didn’t remind my children that I loved them that day, they at least had it on their calendar if I’d had a bad day."

• Gingerbread House Tradition (07:47-10:16):

  • Julie shares her long-standing practice of making gingerbread houses, even transitioning to nativity scenes or decorating the houses for different holidays.
  • The tradition persists, now involving grandchildren.
  • David admits he mostly took photos and read the Christmas story, humorously noting his limited participation.
  • Quote, Julie (09:37):
    “I was crying into the frosting as I was making the frosting, because this, our last gingerbread house, will never make them again. So after we finished…I took the little village and decorated them for Valentine’s…we had no bugs.”

Fostering a Spirit of Service

• Holiday Service Projects (11:14-12:26):

  • Julie sought to counter commercialism by involving her children in acts of service. From baking cookies for shelters to packing Samaritan’s Purse shoeboxes, these experiences broadened their understanding and gratitude.

• A Story of Persistent Prayer (12:28-13:54):

  • Julie shares about her daughter praying for the recipient of a shoebox gift, with a heartwarming follow-up months later when they received a thank-you letter from India.
  • Quote, Julie (13:50):
    “It was just a great way to tell our children, you don’t ever stop praying. Don’t give up on your prayers.”

Facing Hardship and Grief During the Holidays

• Christmas from Afar: Deployed Parent (14:29-15:14):

  • David recounts the difficulty of spending Christmas away from family during Desert Storm, describing long waits for brief calls home.
  • Quote, David (14:55):
    “I only got to call, what, every couple of weeks? …I get there, and there’ll be a line of 50 people…so there was not much contact at all. So it was tough.”

• Coping with Loss (15:14-16:34):

  • Julie talks about navigating Christmas after the death of her brother, making both new and familiar traditions to both grieve and honor his memory.

Advent Devotional: Children’s Advent Stories for Bedtime

• The Purpose of the Devotional (16:53-18:42):

  • The Lavenders designed their book for nightly readings, aligning each story with the days of December. Each narrative builds anticipation for the arrival of Christ by grounding the Christmas message in Scripture and pointing to the need for a Savior.
  • Quote, Julie (17:17):
    “We thought it would be wonderful for them to end the day thinking about the main reason for Christmas.”

• The Importance of Intentionality (18:04-19:06):

  • The hosts and guests stress carving out focused family time for spiritual reflection, just as families are intentional about shopping or sending Christmas cards.
  • Quote, Jim Daly (18:04):
    “What children develop if they’re not really guided is it’s about gifts…sometimes they’re not going to say, yeah, it’s when Jesus was born…”

• Grandparents’ Role (19:06-19:39):

  • Jim and Julie underline the impact of extended family—especially grandparents—reading devotional stories with children.

Explaining Tough Spiritual Themes to Kids

• Adapting Big Truths for Little Minds (19:42-23:33):

  • The Lavenders discuss making foundational Christian concepts like sin, salvation, humility, and resurrection accessible by encouraging questions and slowly unveiling deeper truths as their children grow.
  • Quote, Julie (20:18):
    “There are times that there are things that we’re not going to understand…We would say, well, you know what, those are things we can keep talk[ing to] God about.”

• Embracing Curiosity and Open Dialogue (23:01-23:33):

  • Both guests encourage families to enjoy Bible stories and discuss “what ifs”—even when faced with unanswerable or silly questions.
  • Quote, David (23:01):
    "What animals may have been present at the birth of Christ? You don’t see that in the Bible…but he was laid in a manger."

Sample Devotional Reading

• Concluding with the Gospel (23:37-25:11):
  • Julie reads the devotional entry “Jesus Will Come Again,” which concisely lays out the Christian hope in Christ’s return, eternity, and salvation through Jesus.
  • Quote, Julie (24:51):
    “The only way to live with Jesus forever is to accept his gift of salvation, to put your trust in Jesus and to believe in him as God’s son.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Julie on Advent calendars and affirmation:

  “It was just a special way for them to check off the day and see a note of affirmation, remind them of the Lord.” (06:41)

• David reflecting on missing Christmas during his deployment:

  “To make a telephone call, man, I got on a bus, rode for two hours…you got 15 minutes, and at the end of your 15 minutes the guy behind you tapped you on the shoulder and you got off the phone and left.” (14:55)

• Julie on the impact of service traditions:

  “I just wanted them to think about other people and I wanted them to feel blessed for the things that they did have…” (11:29)

• Jim Daly on intentional parenting:

  "If we’re not intentional, it’s not going to happen." (18:42)

• Julie reading from their devotional:

  “When Jesus returns, God’s plan of salvation will be complete. Those who believe in Jesus and have put their trust in him will live forever in a new, perfect world. Jesus wants to spend eternity with you.” (24:51)

Important Timestamps

| Segment | Timestamp | |---------------------------------------------|:-------------:| | Recalling family Christmas memories | 01:01-01:25 | | Re-focusing on Christ as the center | 02:14-02:29 | | Personalized family calendars | 05:46-07:07 | | Gingerbread house tradition story | 07:47-10:16 | | Service projects and prayer story | 11:14-13:54 | | Grief and coping with missing family | 15:14-16:34 | | Advent devotional purpose explained | 16:53-18:04 | | Intentionality in spiritual traditions | 18:04-19:06 | | Explaining salvation and spiritual matters | 19:42-23:33 | | Devotional reading: "Jesus Will Come Again" | 23:37-25:11 |

Tone & Atmosphere

The conversation is warm, encouraging, and filled with genuine stories and laughter—especially around family traditions and adapting to life’s challenges. Julie and David bring both practical ideas and a gentle reminder to center family life on faith in Christ, while hosts Jim Daly and John Fuller steer the conversation with humor, empathy, and a focus on biblical parenting.

Takeaways & Application

• Start or Renew Intentional Family Traditions: Whether gingerbread houses or personalized calendars, build continuity and memory in your family’s celebration.
• Serve Others: Counter Christmas commercialism with tangible acts of service and giving.
• Prioritize Faith Conversations: Be intentional—use tools like the Lavenders’ devotional to start or deepen dialogue, even in small increments.
• Be Honest with Kids’ Questions: Don’t fear the hard or silly questions. Allow curiosity and wonder to lead to deeper truths over time.
• Lean on Community: Include extended family, friends, or church in holiday celebrations and spiritual education.
• Model Resilience Through Hardship: Share how your family handles separation or grief to help others who may be facing a difficult season.

For more on the Lavenders’ book and resources, visit the Focus on the Family show notes.