Ahh...the holdiay season is amongst us. Twinkling lights, Christmas music on the radio....These next few weeks are not only a time to decorate and transfrom our home into a Winter Wonderland; for me it is a time to reflect on my relationship with God. It is a time to think about my faith and my prayer life. It will hopefully, be full of moments of quiet reflection. It may take a miracle to find that quiet time, but I am going to give it my all. This Advent season is time for me to think about Jesus' birth and all the gifts I have been given because of our Lord.
Some families have Advent wreaths which they light each night before prayer. Others may do an Advent Calendar where they countdown to Christmas Day. These are all fun to have your family participate. Christmas Day is wonderful and so worthy of a great celebration. I too think that the weeks leading up to Christmas are equally important. It gives us a chance to pray about Hope, Peace, Joy and Love. All of these glorious gifts from God.
Hope-
This first week of Advent, we light the candle of Hope. My goal this week has been to make time each day to think about my "hopes." What am I needing physically, spiritually and emotionally? I can't help but to think about the hope that Mary had while carrying the baby Jesus in her womb. I think about the hope the Three Wise Men had during their journey to Bethlehem. I think about the Christmas Star and what a beautiful symbol of hope it was for the Wise Men. It makes me wonder what Mary and Joseph's hopes were when they were in the stable with Baby Jesus?
What do you hope for? What is a priority for you and your family this holiday season? It is so easy to get wrapped up in the commercialism of Christmas...I am just as guilty. I love watching my children and my husband open their gifts on Christmas Day. With that being said I also love when we make a cupcake for Jesus and sing Happy Birthday. I want my children to always remember the real reason behind Christmas.
This week was the time to think about hope and what it means to each of us personally. My hope is that I can prioritize these next few weeks and make time to sit quitely so that I can better teach my children about Hope, Peace, Joy and Love.
Where hope would otherwise become hopelessness, it becomes faith. ~Robert Brault
Some families have Advent wreaths which they light each night before prayer. Others may do an Advent Calendar where they countdown to Christmas Day. These are all fun to have your family participate. Christmas Day is wonderful and so worthy of a great celebration. I too think that the weeks leading up to Christmas are equally important. It gives us a chance to pray about Hope, Peace, Joy and Love. All of these glorious gifts from God.
Hope-
This first week of Advent, we light the candle of Hope. My goal this week has been to make time each day to think about my "hopes." What am I needing physically, spiritually and emotionally? I can't help but to think about the hope that Mary had while carrying the baby Jesus in her womb. I think about the hope the Three Wise Men had during their journey to Bethlehem. I think about the Christmas Star and what a beautiful symbol of hope it was for the Wise Men. It makes me wonder what Mary and Joseph's hopes were when they were in the stable with Baby Jesus?
What do you hope for? What is a priority for you and your family this holiday season? It is so easy to get wrapped up in the commercialism of Christmas...I am just as guilty. I love watching my children and my husband open their gifts on Christmas Day. With that being said I also love when we make a cupcake for Jesus and sing Happy Birthday. I want my children to always remember the real reason behind Christmas.
This week was the time to think about hope and what it means to each of us personally. My hope is that I can prioritize these next few weeks and make time to sit quitely so that I can better teach my children about Hope, Peace, Joy and Love.
Where hope would otherwise become hopelessness, it becomes faith. ~Robert Brault