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This Advent is going by swiftly, as all Advents seem to do ever since I reached adulthood. I remember how long the weeks before Christmas once seemed to be. We girls would make our Christmas lists, lie in front of the tree to gaze upon any packages, bake cookies, draw endless cards to go into people's stockings, and wait. It was a time of preparation for something that we knew was good. Perhaps that part of the message of Advent is easier for children to grasp than adults.
Because we won't be home for Christmas, it seems silly to bother with a tree, so we haven't. I am suffering from Christmas-tree-envy as I look in all the neighbors' windows and see their beautiful lights and ornaments.
However, we have been enjoying other Advent activities.
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I found an inexpensive wreath at Target and added some ribbon which just happens to coordinate with the wallpaper in our dining room. We light the appropriate number of candles after dinner and read devotions from Higher Things (you can download them for free).
Our Kiddo is deeply impressed by the whole "flame" thing, and spends our devotion time bouncing excitedly against my neck.
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The holiday season is supposed to be a time of joy, which makes tragedy and suffering doubly jarring to those whose Advent and Christmas are hard to endure. I found this article, about how the author's father died during Advent when his plane crashed, beautifully moving:
Suffering in Advent by Melanie Sorenson
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Speaking of articles, you should read Chad Bird's The Dad Who Didn't Have to Be a Dad: Even God Needed a Father. Of course Joseph provided the Baby Jesus and His mother with financial security and protection, but that is only one small piece of his role.
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In case you missed it, here is some lighter reading: a rather wacky Christmas story I wrote involving a dwarf, a courageous mother, and a magic waistcoat button.
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Advent walks are very pleasant, especially if it's dark enough to enjoy the neighbor's lights and decorations. On a street not too far from us lives a family with a doll-house-like mailbox. Someday I shall make one like theirs. As you can see, they decorated it for Christmas:
Look at those tiny wreaths in the windows! My husband says that, if we ever have a similar mailbox, he will make tiny Advent wreaths with tiny candles to be displayed within it.
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To all of you and yours: A blessed Advent and a Merry Christmas!
Linking-up with Kelly for all the 7 Quick Takes.
I love that mailbox! Too cute. Ever since we moved into this house, we've made it a tradition to take walks on the nice evenings during December to enjoy all our neighbors' Christmas lights. Usually the whole family goes, but last night my hubby wasn't feeling up to it (I swear we have the longest-lasting cold in the history of the world), and our son wanted to stay home to play Legos with Daddy, so I took the two girls, and we walked hand-in-hand around our neighborhood and sang Christmas carols. My new favorite Christmas memory. They're only 3 and 4, but they know ALL the words to "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" so we sang that one three times :-D
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun thing to do! It makes me look forward to the day when my kiddo is able to stay awake and happy for a bit longer into the evening.
DeleteOur third was born in mid December three years ago, our first winter here, and we just bundled her up, I popped her in her sling and zipped my coat around her, and off we went. However, winter in northern VA is by no means actually cold. Had we still lived in CT or WI, that would never have worked :-o
DeleteI really enjoy your newly discovered blog. I'm also a reader and am always looking for new books to read. It does amaze me the number of Catholic link-ups you have with all the anti-Catholic Lutheran rants I read. We don't agree on everything but we are brothers and sisters in Christ.
ReplyDeleteHi Nancy,
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you're enjoying it!
I can't speak to what you've read (there are all kind of people on the internet, aren't there?), but it can be helpful to remember that most of us are more distressed by problems and errors in the lives of people close to us than in the lives of strangers. In many ways, it is more distressing to see a fellow-Christian fall into a misunderstanding about God than it is to hear that, say, a Hindu believes yet one more erroneous thing. I think some Lutherans might come across as "ranters" because they care so much about theology, and don't want any brothers and sisters in the faith to suffer from erroneous theology.
That doesn't mean we can't still hang out together and discuss it, though, right? Even when we're hanging out via link-ups!
You are right. Of course, there are those who think Lutherans are wrong and we need to be straightened out!! Focus on Christ!
DeleteYes, there are all kinds of people on the internet! Keeps life interesting.
That mailbox is so sweet! I love the little wreaths! Hope you have a wonderful fourt week of Advent and a merry Christmas.
ReplyDeleteThanks, you too!
DeleteI loved your story :) And that mailbox is adorable! My 3yo got really excited the other day that so many people are hanging Advent wreaths on their doors - I couldn't tell her they were actually Christmas wreaths, she was SO adorable!
ReplyDelete