I've
always thought of Advent as a time of joyful anticipation.
There is no other time of the year that I enjoy more. I am not
thrilled with the chill in the air but I love the excitement that
I find in that same air as everyone busily prepares for the holidays.
We're all thinking about our loved ones and want to provide them
with exciting, meaningful memories and gifts. It's a time that we
are SO busy that we sometimes don't realize that it's our love for
others that make us “need” to do all these things. I decorate the
house and tree, wrap the presents, make all those special dishes,
and visit with friends — traditions abound! At times it gets
over-whelming and I try to step back and look at the “traditions”
cluttering the season and decide which are really important. We lose
the meaning of it all if we try to do too much but commemorating
the season IS very important for ourselves as well as our children.
Traditions make memories and bind the family. They make sweet
memories that our children will want to make for their own.
I also think of Advent as a great time to renew and refresh our minds and souls. It's the perfect time to set our priorities back where they need to be. Every Sunday in Advent we are reminded of the story of how and why Jesus came to us as we are preparing with anticipation for his birth. Every year it's the same story but what a refreshing one — giving a focus and meaning to our busy lives. He came as one of us, to suffer the same daily trials that we suffer. He did this because He loves us. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” — John 3:16.
Advent gives us time to reflect, anticipate and appreciate the most important gift given to each and every one of us. Once the holiday preparations have been made both in our hearts and in our homes, the transition from preparation to celebration is Christmas Service. Coming together with others to celebrate the birth of Jesus is the high point of the year.
Beth Brigham