I'm totally loving this Advent season. My kids are at a certain sweet spot age-wise that I really hope I can help keep going for a few more years. J and C are a bit young to view Christmas with all the materialism of older kids and adults. Instead, I am loving watching C exclaim "Wow!" whenever she sees a shiny ornament or light display. P has been squealing with joy at the first sight of a Christmas tree since we started seeing them right BEFORE Halloween.
This is giving me a new insight to "child-like faith" and a refreshing perspective on Advent. I've honestly kind of felt like Advent has been a bit of a bummer the last few years. It's appropriate to be penitential. I get that. We are supposed to take inventory of our lives and remember to be vigilant of the coming of Christ. Most days, I don't think any of us could say we are really living like we are preparing to meet our maker. We gripe and snip at each other and make all sorts of mountains out of mole hills. It is important to remember our place before God and embrace the attitude adjustment. I certainly don't want an Advent full of materialism, buying and "stuff." But this year, I'm getting a much more joyful experience. Don't get me wrong, I'm still reminded of all the areas for personal improvement and how I'm not living as I should. Instead of feeling such weight from my personal failures, I'm feeling more renewed to keep trying, and with a smile.
So far, I've been able to do little crafts and activities with J and C getting ready for Christmas- it's been a pretty healthy mixture of secular and Christian activities. We have an Advent Calendar House with Santa on the roof that J loves opening the windows at night before he goes to bed. My aunt gave the kids Advent Storybook by Antonie Schneider that has a little story for the 25 days before Christmas and we have dutifully read our story each night. I gotta say, this book is awesome. It tracks a little bear opening the doors on his Advent Calendar and then his mother tells him a little story about the picture behind the door. They all revolve around a little bear following a star to Bethlehem and small lessons of faith. Like tonight's was about a giant and the moral of the story was that even the small and weak help the big and strong. So with all of these little rituals we are developing, the kids' enthusiasm is so contagious. It's reminded me that our preparations for Christ's coming are about more than just realizing all the ways we turn our back on God. It's also about the joy of following Christ. Growing up, my parents always explained that joy is putting Jesus first, Others second and Yourself last. I think my kids are helping me realize that more this year. I'm excited to use this Advent to refocus on Christ and to be more ready for His coming.
This is giving me a new insight to "child-like faith" and a refreshing perspective on Advent. I've honestly kind of felt like Advent has been a bit of a bummer the last few years. It's appropriate to be penitential. I get that. We are supposed to take inventory of our lives and remember to be vigilant of the coming of Christ. Most days, I don't think any of us could say we are really living like we are preparing to meet our maker. We gripe and snip at each other and make all sorts of mountains out of mole hills. It is important to remember our place before God and embrace the attitude adjustment. I certainly don't want an Advent full of materialism, buying and "stuff." But this year, I'm getting a much more joyful experience. Don't get me wrong, I'm still reminded of all the areas for personal improvement and how I'm not living as I should. Instead of feeling such weight from my personal failures, I'm feeling more renewed to keep trying, and with a smile.
So far, I've been able to do little crafts and activities with J and C getting ready for Christmas- it's been a pretty healthy mixture of secular and Christian activities. We have an Advent Calendar House with Santa on the roof that J loves opening the windows at night before he goes to bed. My aunt gave the kids Advent Storybook by Antonie Schneider that has a little story for the 25 days before Christmas and we have dutifully read our story each night. I gotta say, this book is awesome. It tracks a little bear opening the doors on his Advent Calendar and then his mother tells him a little story about the picture behind the door. They all revolve around a little bear following a star to Bethlehem and small lessons of faith. Like tonight's was about a giant and the moral of the story was that even the small and weak help the big and strong. So with all of these little rituals we are developing, the kids' enthusiasm is so contagious. It's reminded me that our preparations for Christ's coming are about more than just realizing all the ways we turn our back on God. It's also about the joy of following Christ. Growing up, my parents always explained that joy is putting Jesus first, Others second and Yourself last. I think my kids are helping me realize that more this year. I'm excited to use this Advent to refocus on Christ and to be more ready for His coming.