This Advent season, I’ve been thinking a lot about beginnings. I like to know where the journey is going, to at least have an endpoint. But that’s not life or faith. I’m remembering that God has gifted us very few answers and endings and instead keeps pointing us back to the beginning. I’m over at SheLoves Magazine today reflecting on what I’m learning this season. Here’s an excerpt – I hope you’ll head over and join the conversation!
We are in the midst of Advent, which looks like lighting a candle each night before dinner and reading a short devotion from a kid-friendly book. Our oldest is now able to do the bulk of the reading which has added an incredible element to our evenings. Because she gets the spotlight for the reading, she has graciously ceded the extinguishing of the candle to her younger sister, meaning we have one less quibble at the table. There’s also something amazing about passing on the reading after seven years of finding the “perfect fit.” It’s a reminder of why we create imperfect habits and rhythms as a family. Now, our girls can’t imagine life without Advent readings and I am grateful that it’s an ingrained part of our year.
I’ve been thinking about imperfect habits lately and how it translates to my view of God and faith. Recently, I was reading the parable of the lost son in Luke 15. It’s a story I’ve read countless times since I was a child and recently taught to the kindergarten Sunday school class at our church. As an oldest, rule-following child, I’ve always had empathy for the elder son. I absolutely understood his frustration at watching the mistakes of his younger brother celebrated. Growing up, I was taught to be like the younger son, and not like the ungrateful and shortsighted older one. But the other day, I was struck with the way this parable ends.
After listening to his oldest son, the father says, “You are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.” (Luke 15:31-32, NIV)
And there the story ends. We don’t know what happens next. Head over to SheLoves to read the rest!
I entered Advent with a bit of a swagger this year. We’ve done this before! We’re figuring out a routine and rhythm that work for our family! I don’t want to use the word “expert,” but “confident” definitely encompassed my attitude as we approached that first Sunday in December.
We’ve had five years of practice in celebrating Advent with kids. Last year, I caught a glimpse at the results of our hard work and intention. At the time, my four-year-old was finally starting to “get” the daily readings, the candles, the coloring pages and family discussions. We actually start our preparation in November with a thankful tree so that by the time the first week of Advent arrives, we’re in a ritual as a family.
and stretched to the places I could walk and explore. When I was Bea’s age, my world also included our neighborhood in Germany and the countries my parents took us to visit during our years there.
Ever since Elle was tiny, Bea has been asking her these questions. And ever since Elle was able to respond, she’s answered, Yes! She does know how loved and amazing she is. (And, lest you think Bea is some sort of magical big sister, she learned those phrases from Frank, who also asks Elle those questions every day.)
phone. Over and over again this year, I’ve read the news with a heaviness and disappointment. Many of the laws passed (or trying to be passed) won’t really affect our family much. In some cases, we may even benefit from them. And yet, my neighbors, Bea’s classmates, strangers on the street all will be impacted.
While I was lying awake at 3:00 this morning, I reflected that perhaps it’s not a bad thing to enter Advent weary. A handful of nights of interrupted sleep certainly isn’t the worst of parenting that I’ve experienced so far. I know that there is a light at the end of this stretch and that our rhythm (and sleep!) will be restored.
We actually start our Advent season on November 1 with a Thankful Tree. (This has nothing to do with actual Advent but I still count it as preparation.) Since I’m not crafty, I bought a bulletin board tree at a teacher supply store and hang it in our dining room. I also buy premade leaves. If you like crafting, this would be a fairly simple project. Each night, we share one thing we’re thankful for – from family and friends to glow sticks and technology. We write it on a leaf and tape it to our tree trunk. By the end of November, the wall is filled with small and big things we’re thankful for. This month of thankfulness prepares us for our nightly Advent readings. I’ve come to view it as preparation for the preparation of Christmas. I like having a rhythm in place by the time Advent arrives.
If you do nothing else, an Advent wreath and 4 candles would be significant enough. Each candle represents part of the journey toward Bethlehem, though depending on the tradition, they mean different things. The first candle is Prophecy or Hope, the second is Bethlehem or Preparation, the third is Shepherd or Joy, and the fourth is Angel or Love. In the middle is a Christ Candle. Each night we light a candle and read a devotion together. As the month progresses, our table gets brighter and brighter. We keep the Christ candle lit all day for Christmas and then I save it to use during Epiphany.
For the 12 days after Christmas, we use lights to remember the star that led the Magi to Bethlehem. Even after we take down our decorations on New Year’s, we leave the lights on the tree and outside the house. We also continue to light the Christ Candle from our Advent wreath. On January 6, we buy a Galette des Rois and eat food “from the east.” (We use this loosely – anything east of Colorado counts.)
Annie Rim 