Today we begin.
As I place the advent wreath on the table my children cheerfully announce, “I remember that!” And I remember the nights last year that we sat around the table listening to Daddy reading. Teaching us about the baby. And I sat listening and for the first time ever rocking my very own baby boy. Feeling a connection to Mary that I had never really understood before.
And I become afraid that this year we’ll forget. This year we’ll get caught up in the busyness of the season. That we’ll, once again, allow our minds to become consumed with the here and now. That we’ll be so focused on wrapping presents instead of unwrapping the most precious gift.
So we pray. We ask for Him to guide us back. Like Mary we follow the Light. Knowing that when our eyes are focused on Him we are able to then see the foolishness of what is hidden in the darkness. So many times I am lured away to what is known and comfortable. Wanting to ‘fit in’. Not wanting to come off as ‘too extreme’. But living for Christ is living to the extreme. Following Him will seem foolish to those who don’t know Him. And so we must keep ourselves in His light. Allowing Him to lead us to the Truth. Knowing that He was born for a reason and to not take Him for granted.
We have been blessed with this advent wreath for the past year. Using it to teach us from December 1st through Resurrection Sunday and beyond. I know it’s late, but get one for your family? All profits are donated to Compassion International. A double blessing. And sign up for Ann Voskamp’s mailing list to receive the Advent Devotional for your family. Beautiful, just beautiful words. Thank you Voskamp family. I anxiously look forward to another advent season. Training our hearts to be more like His.
Blessings!
