It's never too late to change, and God's invitation to turn back to Him remains open. Explore how this classic Christmas story teaches kids about second chances, forgiveness, and the new hearts God offers through Christ.
A Christmas Carol: Teaching Kids About Second Chances
"Bah, humbug!"
If your children have seen any adaptation of Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol, they know Ebenezer Scrooge as the ultimate grumpy character—a man so hardened by bitterness that he can't even enjoy Christmas. But by the story's end, after visits from three spirits, Scrooge awakens transformed. He laughs, he gives generously, he embraces life with childlike wonder. It's one of literature's most dramatic transformations, and it offers parents a beautiful opportunity to discuss something profound with our children: repentance and renewal.
The Heart That Can Change
Scrooge's story resonates because we recognize something true in it—people can change. Not through their own willpower alone, but through genuine recognition of who they've become and a sincere desire to be different. This is repentance at its core.
The word "repent" can sound heavy or religious in a way that distances children from its meaning. But at its heart, repentance simply means to turn around—to acknowledge we've been heading the wrong direction and to choose a different path. Scrooge does exactly this. He sees clearly, perhaps for the first time, how his choices have isolated him and hurt others. And he doesn't just feel sorry; he changes everything.
As parents, we can use Scrooge's transformation to help our children understand that God doesn't leave us stuck in our worst moments. Scripture tells us that "if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come" (2 Corinthians 5:17). Just as Scrooge woke Christmas morning a different man, God offers us new hearts through Christ.
It's Never Too Late
One of the most hopeful aspects of Scrooge's story is the timing. He's elderly, set in his ways, isolated by decades of selfishness. If anyone seemed beyond redemption, it would be him. Yet even Scrooge can change.
This is an essential truth for children to understand: it's never too late to turn back to God. Whether they've been unkind to a sibling this morning, made poor choices this month, or struggled with the same sin for years, God's invitation to repent and be renewed remains open. There's no expiration date on grace.
Help your children see that repentance isn't about perfection—it's about direction. We don't have to get everything right before coming to God. We come to Him broken, admitting we need help, and He does the transforming work. Scrooge couldn't have changed himself through sheer determination; he needed to see truth from outside himself. Similarly, we need God's Spirit to show us who we really are and who we can become through Him.
What Does Real Change Look Like?
After reading or watching A Christmas Carol together, ask your children: "How do we know Scrooge really changed? What did he do differently?"
They'll likely remember the obvious things: he sent the Cratchits a giant turkey, gave Bob a raise, became like a second father to Tiny Tim, laughed and celebrated with his nephew. Real repentance produces visible fruit. As Jesus said, "You will recognize them by their fruits" (Matthew 7:16).
This is where the rubber meets the road in our own lives. If we've genuinely repented of impatience, we'll speak more kindly. If we've turned from selfishness, we'll share more freely. Repentance isn't just a feeling of remorse—it's a reorientation of life that others can see.
For children, this might look like apologizing to a friend they hurt and then playing kindly with them. It's returning what they took. It's choosing differently the next time temptation comes. Help them understand that stumbling again doesn't mean their repentance wasn't real; it means they're human and need God's help daily.
Creating a Culture of Grace at Home
One of the most powerful gifts we can give our children is a home where mistakes aren't hidden but humbly acknowledged and forgiven. When parents model repentance—actually saying "I was wrong" or "I'm sorry, will you forgive me?"—children learn that change is possible and that admitting fault isn't weakness but strength.
Consider establishing simple practices that normalize repentance in your family:
- Regular Check-ins: At dinner or bedtime, create space for family members to share if they need to apologize for something or if they're struggling with a particular behavior.
- Celebrating Change: When you notice someone making different choices, acknowledge it. "I've noticed you've been more patient with your sister lately. That's really wonderful growth."
- Scripture Memory: Help children memorize verses about God's forgiveness and renewal, like 1 John 1:9: "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
- Prayer Together: Pray as a family for God to help each of you with specific areas where you want to change, modeling vulnerability and dependence on God.
The God Who Makes All Things New
Scrooge's transformation happened in a single night, but our spiritual growth usually unfolds more gradually. That's okay. God is patient with us, working through years and seasons to shape us into the image of Christ.
This Christmas season, as you read stories of transformation and renewal, let them point your children to the ultimate story: God became human, lived among us, died for our sins, and rose again so that we could be forgiven and made new. That's the heart of the gospel, and it's the reason we can always turn back to Him.
The ghosts showed Scrooge his past, present, and possible future. God does something even more remarkable—He redeems our past, transforms our present, and secures our eternal future. No matter what your children have done or will do, they can always come home to a Father who welcomes them with open arms.
As you celebrate this season, remind them: it's never too late to change. God's invitation to repent and be renewed is always open. Like Scrooge on Christmas morning, we can wake each day as new creations, ready to live differently because we've encountered transforming grace.
Explore lessons from classic Christmas stories in our Microlearning series. In this 10-part series, we explore Christmas characters, stories, and carols and what they can teach us! Each email includes a podcast episode, activity, related recipe, and more fun that the whole family can enjoy!
