Advent, kiddos & mysteries of the faith

No, Advent is not Catholic. I say this as a reminder to myself. I am not sure why but growing up I always associated Advent with Catholicism, like I did with Ash Wednesday. Weird I know, but I am weird so you all shouldn’t be surprised by that. J 

This very day we find ourselves enveloped in the season of wonder, of mystery, of Majesty.  Advent is a practice that my husband and I have begun to observe for the past several years. Very simply it’s a season of expectation, awaiting with eager longing. Even if you aren’t particularly nostalgic, and the whole lighting of the Advent candles isn’t your thing, perhaps you could consider waiting every day. Take time daily from now until Christmas Eve to be still in God’s presence and reflect on the meaning of this season. Try to get up early or go to bed late or center your thoughts before you drift to sleep. In the still and in the quiet, reflect on the wonder of Christmas.  My calm, centered mind goes to a place that says—God didn’t have to create me but He did. I don’t have to be a part of His plan, but I am. God in all His Majesty left what our eyes have yet to behold to come to a place as messed up as ours to bring us to a Place as great as His. He loves us SO much.  How He must have ached for Home, how He must have longed for us all to understand while we continued to reject Him. How heavy His feet must have felt every step of the journey of every day nearing Calvary. So much awe in this season, so much joy….and with it so many questions. Yet, not all questions are meant to be answered, to be known by us. God reserves for us mysteries in the faith, but these mysteries need not frustrate us. If I am honest, I know my bend is to be frustrated when I don’t have answers. Do you know who is a great example for me? Kids. The eyes through which a child sees the world are so beautiful, so honest, and their faith is the same. This season I am going to exercise my own child-like faith. I am going to press myself to appreciate the joys and wonders of Christmas. I am going to be delighted with a country decorated in lights, with the gatherings of family and friends, with all the songs and all the cookies and the little girls’ dresses that glitter and sparkle….It’s all for you Lord Jesus. You are so worth it. You are so amazing. We celebrate You! There is no better season.

FUN WITH KIDS

While you are learning from your kids, of course they are always learning from you. Here is a fun way you can teach your kids about Advent and Christmas and Jesus in a unique way. (We can’t wait to try this with our own kiddos some day).

1.       Come up with something fun to do with your kids this weekend or next but DON’T TELL THEM.
2.       Make a countdown to the day of fun, or remind them of the special thing to come every day but don’t give it away.
3.       In the process of keeping the surprise a secret, of course your kiddos will be really excited. As they are excited, teach them about how exciting it was years ago for those who waited and expected Jesus to be born any day. Teach them this is the same excitement we can have every day because Jesus is going to come again and He is going to make this earth so cool when He does. This whole, big party of Christmas is for Jesus and it’s so great!

Precious little compares to seeing kids in joy and wonder….precious little.  It really doesn’t take much people…;-)

 

PRAY FOR YOUR HUSBAND

This week we pray that our husbands will lead our family in being reverent to the mysteries of the faith. We pray that our husbands will encourage us to ask questions that press us into God and His Word and all the while encourage us to rest only in Him knowing there are some things meant to remain mysteries, for we are not God but man.