The Twelve Days of Christmas

About this book

The familiar carol The Twelve Days of Christmas evokes images of leaping lords, milking maids, and a partridge in a pear tree-a whimsical countdown to festive cheer. But what if those twelve days pointed to something far deeper, more eternal, and profoundly personal? In The Twelve Days of Christmas, author Kent Merrell invites readers to reimagine the beloved song not as a tally of extravagant gifts, but as a sacred reflection on the twelve most pivotal days in the life and mission of Jesus Christ-the Savior whose birth we celebrate each December. What began as a heartfelt Sunday School lesson soon outgrew a single class period, evolving into monthly family discussions, shared teachings with friends, and ultimately this book: a deeply personal compilation of scripture, insight, and testimony centered on the moments that define the Savior's divine role.Guided by a simple, soul-searching question-"Lord, which days were Your big days?"-the author carefully selected twelve events that, to him, stand as the most profound turning points in Christ's eternal story. These are not arbitrary choices but days the Savior Himself has referenced and affirmed across scripture-from His premortal declaration as the Creator of worlds, through the Creation, the Fall of Adam and Eve, the translation of Enoch's city, the days of Noah, His humble birth in a manger, His sacred ministry (including visits to other sheep in distant folds), His atoning sacrifice, the Resurrection, appearances to ancient peoples in the Americas, and the promise of His triumphant Second Coming.These are days that shaped not only history but eternity-days of creation, covenant, warning, redemption, visitation, atonement, and ultimate victory. While the author's selections are personal (and he graciously acknowledges that others might choose differently, perhaps emphasizing the same core events like the Nativity, Crucifixion, and Resurrection), the goal remains the same: to deepen faith, invite personal revelation, and center Christmas on the One whose life gives the season its true meaning.What started as a fleeting melody in the author's mind became a year-long journey of discovery, shared first in classrooms and homes, then preserved here for anyone seeking to move beyond worldly traditions toward a Christ-centered celebration. Whether read devotionally across the twelve days before Christmas, studied one chapter at a time throughout the year, or explored in family or group discussions, this book offers a fresh lens on an old carol-and a renewed testimony of the Savior.If you've ever longed to keep Christ at the heart of the holidays, if the familiar song stirs something deeper than nostalgia, or if you're ready to ask the Lord which days matter most in His story, The Twelve Days of Christmas is an invitation to reflect, rejoice, and draw nearer to the Redeemer whose "big days" continue to change lives today.