Crafting with Elizabeth: Jesse Tree

by Elizabeth Walby

Christmas is the perfect time of year to start a new tradition. I know that it’s the still fall, but it works best to give yourself a little bit of time to prepare for making a new tradition in your home! 

A few years ago as a brand new mom, I was looking for Christmas traditions to start in our home that were centered on Christ. That’s when my good friend told me about the Jesse Tree. 

Children are naturally very excited around Christmas, as are many adults, so it is a great time to direct them to the true meaning of Christmas..Jesus! In a season that can quickly become the busiest time of year, this is a simple and easy way to center our hearts each morning.

If you have never heard of the Jesse Tree Tradition I wanted to share more about it with you today and give you a special gift to make it super easy to start in your own home. 

What is a Jesse Tree Tradition?

A Jesse Tree is a collection of 24 or 25 ornaments that tell a part of the gospel story from creation to Jesus’s birth. There is an ornament for each day, and a passage or story from the Bible that corresponds with it.

Here’s what you need to make your very own Jesse Tree:

• Free Jesse Tree Printables 
• Bible or Picture Bible 
• Christmas Tree
• 24 Wood Cut-outs
• Hot Glue Gun Scissors 
• Twine 

Here’s how to make a set of Jesse Tree Ornaments: 

1. Cut out your Jesse Tree Printables: Take your free printable and print it out. Then cut out each of the 24 circles.

2. Glue them onto the wood cutouts.

3. Attach string or twine to each cutout. 

Here’s some tips to start a Jesse Tree Tradition: 

1. Pick a time of day that you will read your Bible story. It doesn’t have to be the same time each day but consistency does seem to help. When we started the Jesse Tree Tradition in our home the Storybook Bible worked perfectly. When children are older they can look up the passages and you can deepen the questions you ask. 

Here is some encouragement that I read a while back about family devotions but unfortunately I do not remember the source that is good to remember. 

“Whether they hear or understand anything that is being read, just the act of gathering as a family to read God’s Word speaks volumes to your kids about the authority of scripture.”

2. Pick the ornament for the day. You can keep the ornaments in a small envelope with the number on it or use an advent calendar

Making it fun: My girls love looking for things so I would hide the ornament each day and they would have to find it. You can think of what your children enjoy and make it fun for them so they look forward to it each day. 

3. Use it as an opportunity to show extra love- this is a great time to practice being still together in a very busy season. Use it as a time to give extra hugs, treats or small presents on some days. But remember to keep it simple so that it’s doable! 

4. After you read the Bible passage for each day, have your child put the ornament on the Jesse Tree. 

5. Pray and ask God to bless the time. Pray that God would work in your child’s heart and help them to see the importance of why Jesus came at Christmas! 

I hope you might try starting a new Christ-centered tradition in your home this year, whether it’s this one or a different one! 

God Bless, 

Elizabeth 

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Elizabeth Walby
Elizabeth is wife to Damon, and mom to three lovely daughters- Annabelle, Emmie and Lilia. Damon and Elizabeth moved to Rochester from Minneapolis in 2018. At that time Elizabeth started craft blogging at A Well Purposed Woman as a stay at home mom. She believes creativity is a God- given gift that can glorify Christ, bring joy into  everyday life and BLESS others!