Advent 2020: December 21, 2020

Growing up with parents who were both raised Lutheran, I always felt Advent was a very important time in my life.  Some of my fondest memories of my childhood revolve around “preparing our hearts” for Christmas!

First came the Advent wreath.  Every year it was brought out of the attic and dusted off.  We put new candles in it.  I remember that almost every year I would have a friend over who would ask about those “crazy colored” candles in our “Christmas wreath”!  I would explain to them the meaning of the purple, pink and white candles.  I would tell them how my family would gather around the wreath every night of Advent.  My sister usually got to read out of the Advent devotion book because she was older. She also lit the appropriate candles. I had the most fun job (in my opinion)…snuffing out the candles with the candle snuffer when we were done (another item a lot of my friends had never seen before)!

Then came the Nativity scene.  My mom still has the nicest one I have seen…Hummel. As a young child I had to be SO careful when I helped her set out the pieces….carefully unwrapping each one. The anticipation and excitement of that day was great!

Most years we also enjoyed using one of those little Advent calendars where you open a little paper window on a board to reveal a special picture that represented aspects of the journey to Bethlehem.  Such a simple activity still leaves a strong memory with me.

Now as an adult, I continue to enjoy most of these traditions in our home.  Funny though, now, I actually ENJOY the waiting. I ENJOY the anticipation and the preparation. I feel like it “centers” my whole year. It “grounds” me. And this year, it feels as though I need that more than ever! I will cherish the wait and preparation. It gives me hope of the joy to come. The blessing of the birth of Christ is one that now I appreciate even more than when I was a child.