How We Do Advent
Recently I talked with a friend, the mother of a four-year-old boy and eight-year-old girl, about how her family celebrates Christmas and more specifically the Advent season. Here are some of her thoughts.
You intentionally spiritually nurture your child throughout the year. Are there are special things you and your husband do during Advent?
Yes, we have an old-fashioned knit Advent calendar with pockets for each of the 25 days of Advent. Before December starts we sit down as a family and decide on 10 things we want to do during Advent. These are things such as baking cookies and taking them to a neighbor. We write the ideas on small pieces of paper and decide which day in December we’ll complete the activity. If I know we can bake cookies on the 18th we put that idea in that number pocket. On the 18th we open the paper and do the activity. I am realistic about the number of ideas because I want to be sure to do them all and I know we need to make the plan before December hits because it gets so crazy in December that I know nothing will happen if we aren’t intentional at the end of November.
Are there any activities you do every year?
Yes, every year Sundays are the same. We have a special candle we light. We tried the kind on the Advent wreath but that didn’t work out very well for us, so I just get a big multi-wick one now. On Sundays we get the candle out, light it, and read Luke 2 with the kids.
What is a favorite memory from past Advent seasons?
My husband plays the guitar and the kids often spontaneously ask him to play Christmas carols and they sweetly sing along. It sounds a little cheesy but it is beautiful.
That doesn’t sound cheesy at all, it sounds amazing! Thanks for sharing your ideas.
Hopefully, this conversation has you brainstorming ways you can be intentional about preparing your family for celebrating Jesus’ birth. Here are some other ideas you might want to do.
1. Of course, you will include the Awana Advent Devotional in this year’s activities! Check it out here!
2. Wrap 25 children’s Christmas books up and put them under the tree. Each night turn on the tree lights, unwrap a book and read it before bed with your kids. Your church library probably has a good selection!
3. Find a Nativity set with 25 pieces. Start with an empty manager scene and each day add a piece to the set until the last day when you add Jesus.
4. Sponsor a family or child in need and make shopping for their gifts a part of your Advent celebration. As you shop you can talk about how giving gifts is a reminder of God’s gift of His Son to us.
5. Buy a gift for a child who is spending Christmas in the hospital and also purchase some flowers for his mom!
6. Visit a live Nativity scene.
