Per Wikipedia, "Advent is a season observed in many Christian churches as a time of expectant waiting and preparation for the celebration of the Nativity of Jesus at Christmas as well as the return of Jesus at the second coming. The term is a version of the Latin word meaning "coming"."
Advent 2013 meant waiting for a baby to eat on his own, not through a tube. Waiting for a biopsy and a surgery and an oncologist. Meeting in a NICU room on Christmas Eve with doctors waiting for a daily update for the 3 lb infant Joseph and a prognosis for my wife who was holding him.
2016 Advent meant waiting for a gift to arrive, cookies to bake, sitters to come and celebration at church. It meant having the time and luxury of crying when the tenor hit the high note in Oh Holy night and celebrating that we had the energy to make it this far. It meant giving the toddler who couldn't eat on his own three years ago an extra gingerbread cookie just because you can, and both of you feeling so happy because he can eat it and ask for more and you can share that moment..... because you're all alive.
2017 This year it's the comfort of having made it to a place where the decorations are up, the kids are surrounded with fun traditions like elf on the shelf and advent calendars, and celebrating Advent the way I grew up, with candles in a wreath. It's about waiting with joy for parties and knowing that our children are having memories of a fun advent season with both of their parents.
This year the discomfort of waiting isn't mine. This year it's feeling heaviness for a friend who had to evacuate fires in California, had to pull her child, wife, and parents away from their home, and had to remain connected to her physical church and church flock during advent....now waiting with the hope of returning home to a house and church with smoke-filled air, in hopes of preparing for Jesus before he arrives on Christmas night.
Advent is about waiting. And being alive through the comfort and discomfort of the season.
Wishing you peace through whatever form of waiting you're in.
Advent is about waiting.
Advent 2013 meant waiting for a baby to eat on his own, not through a tube. Waiting for a biopsy and a surgery and an oncologist. Meeting in a NICU room on Christmas Eve with doctors waiting for a daily update for the 3 lb infant Joseph and a prognosis for my wife who was holding him.
2016 Advent meant waiting for a gift to arrive, cookies to bake, sitters to come and celebration at church. It meant having the time and luxury of crying when the tenor hit the high note in Oh Holy night and celebrating that we had the energy to make it this far. It meant giving the toddler who couldn't eat on his own three years ago an extra gingerbread cookie just because you can, and both of you feeling so happy because he can eat it and ask for more and you can share that moment..... because you're all alive.
2017 This year it's the comfort of having made it to a place where the decorations are up, the kids are surrounded with fun traditions like elf on the shelf and advent calendars, and celebrating Advent the way I grew up, with candles in a wreath. It's about waiting with joy for parties and knowing that our children are having memories of a fun advent season with both of their parents.
This year the discomfort of waiting isn't mine. This year it's feeling heaviness for a friend who had to evacuate fires in California, had to pull her child, wife, and parents away from their home, and had to remain connected to her physical church and church flock during advent....now waiting with the hope of returning home to a house and church with smoke-filled air, in hopes of preparing for Jesus before he arrives on Christmas night.
Advent is about waiting. And being alive through the comfort and discomfort of the season.
Wishing you peace through whatever form of waiting you're in.
