The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Adventhope*circle

Dec 1

14 Things I Love About the Holidays.

I just love this time of year. To me, the holiday season starts with my birthday in late October and runs until Epiphany. It may seem like a long time to you, but it goes by so quickly. It is a time of togetherness & family, to celebrate another year passing, to remember what we are thankful for, to anticipate the coming of Christ, and to start anew.

But the thing I love most about this time of year is Advent. The intentional focus on waiting and expecting helps to slow me down and really concentrate on why this season is important. Yes, the decorations are lovely and the atmosphere is magical. Shopping for the perfect present for family and friends is fun (and sometimes nerve-wracking). But I like to ponder what it all means and how can I embody this anticipation all year long.

For a few years now, I have participated in a global project called Advent Word. Every year they assign a different word for each day of Advent. People are invited to post photos or artwork on social media that shows their interpretation of the word. I try to post every day but I don’t sweat it if I can’t get to one or two of the words. The point is to think about what the word means to you and how it relates to the coming (or coming again) of Christ. I find this as an avenue to connect to Advent in a deep way.

I want to share some of the words for this year and give you my initial thoughts. My thoughts may change as Advent progresses. I hope they do. I invite you on this journey through words with me.

Promise – The first Sunday of Advent is centered on hope. And what better hope is there than the promise of the Advent Season, the promise of the coming King.
Strength – There are many meanings this word takes on. Many ways for us to define it. Sometimes strength is just barely getting through the day, eking out our reserves to make it to the end. Other times, it is finishing strong, with evidence of the day’s productivity. I’m grateful for the strength God promises. He is more than enough.
Soul – Spending quality time with good friends eases my soul. It is the balm I need to smooth away the rough patches. It turns my eyes from within and helps me to focus on others, healing me in the process.
Path – Sometimes the path before us is well defined, lit up, and easy to follow. Sometimes it is hard to make out, dark, and hard to navigate. God is there with us on both paths. His word is our guide and His Holy Spirit our companion.
Everlasting – Everlasting is one of my favorite ways to describe God. It is comforting to know that I am always held in His everlasting arms. There is strength in that. It is a beautiful thing to know that He was always there and always will be.
Splendor – I live in Europe where splendor (or sometimes former splendor) is all around me. I’ve stopped counting castles visited or churches toured. There are so many. And as beautiful as they all are, they can’t compare to the splendor of our King.
Expectation – I feel this is the epitome of Advent. It’s all about expectation and longing. Knowing that Jesus will come again. But what will you do while you are waiting?
Stir – Let this be a time where our hearts stir as we wait, calling us forth to do his work. Calling us forth to be who He made us to be.
Gladness – Can’t you feel it in the air, the gladness the anticipation brings? But this time of year doesn’t bring gladness to everyone. Hold space for those who are mourning, those who are reminded of loved ones gone or happier times. It is ok to grieve, too. There is room for everyone.
Sing – Christmas music is just wonderful. Some of my favorite memories are song services during advent. Singing of the Lord’s coming because of His love for us is very powerful for me. Even as I am writing this, my favorite carol O Holy Night is playing and it just moves me to tears. What is your favorite Christmas song?
Blessed – I can’t even begin to express how deeply blessed I am. And there are so many blessings I am unaware of. May I never take these blessings for granted.
Feed – When I was in Israel, I visited the Primacy of St. Peter. It is where Jesus cooked breakfast for the disciples and then asked Peter (and all of us) to feed his sheep. I think he meant both physically and spiritually. How do we feed each other?
Magnify – To enlarge, to make big. I need many things magnified because my eyes get tired easily. I need to use that as a reminder to magnify our Savior, enlarge him in my life. Let Him be the biggest thing I see. When He is magnified, my problems and troubles are smaller.
Child – Oh, that I may come to Him as a child. Arms and eyes wide open expecting His goodness. And the fact that He came to Earth as a child is not lost on me. It is no wonder he askes us to take care of the least of these. He was once the least, a child.