Advent

Advent

Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions.

IT WAS YEARS AGO that Kendra, Kristin, and I sat—as young moms with young children—on a Sunday afternoon, sipping coffee at a local coffee shop, lamenting the impending holiday season. The rushing, the overwhelm, and the attitudes of young children with mile-long wish lists; it all felt a bit too much for our already exhausted souls.

On a whim, we pondered what it might look like if we adopted acts of kindness as our Advent celebration, weaving Jesus intentionally throughout our days with acts of kindness and generosity toward others, bringing our faith into tangible clarity for our children as well as ourselves. We wanted to reclaim the Christmas season for our faith, and meeting the needs of others seemed both countercultural and refreshing.

We jettisoned traditions that consumed time and energy while bringing us no joy (I now buy my Christmas cookies from the store and am far happier for it), making room for a new tradition that is fast approaching a decade of adventures. We’ve encountered groan-worthy, belly-flopping failures and overwhelming, tear-inducing successes, finding Jesus in the midst of it all.

Advent—for those who did not grow up with the tradition—is a liturgical season on the Christian calendar, a time of preparation and expectant waiting for the celebration of the birth of Christ as well as his second coming. There is no biblical mandate for Advent, and our adoption of kindness throughout Advent is simply our way of preparing our hearts for the wonder of Christmas morning. It has turned the days stretching between December 1 and Christmas Day from a slightly dreaded, overbusy season into some of our favorite days and weeks of the year. What we do and how often we do it is infinitely customizable; the point is to pause the Tilt-A-Whirl of holiday frenzy, rediscovering our Savior while we serve as his hands and feet to the world around us. Join us this year—you won’t regret it.

Lord, as we celebrate Advent, who might we extend physical and emotional generosity toward? Send us. Amen.

-Julie

One Good Step: Make intentional plans for one kind act each week of Advent, always leaving room for God to change the plan.