Practical Advent is a daily blog series I’m doing throughout Advent this year. Join me on my blog each day for practical faith tips.

Practical Advent, Day 14

Since childhood, I’ve observed Advent each year. It’s been a wonderful way to build my faith and increase my anticipation of Christmas for all the right reasons. I highly encourage you to observe Advent as well, because it can help you be more intentional in this busy season.

In this Practical Advent blog series, I’ll have the same post format to give you about 10-15 minutes of practical tips for loving God, loving others, and loving yourself during the Advent season.

Praise

Each day of Practical Advent, I’ll share one of my favorite songs to listen to during Advent. Take a moment to praise God while you listen.

Here’s one I like from Matt Maher – Glory (Let There Be Peace).

Ponder

Every day of Practical Advent, I’ll share a quote or idea from an Advent book in my collection for you to ponder, along with my thoughts and a few reflection questions.

Today’s quote is from Christmas Changes Everything by Elisa Morgan.

In this book, the author tells about how the first Christmas changed people in amazing ways. They are examples for us to follow (and one is a negative example for us not to follow). I appreciated the organized way she explained how Christmas changed these people who are so familiar to us, and I learned new things from her in this book. I enjoyed her own personal stories in the book too.

Here’s the long, yet thoughtful quote I’ve chosen to share today:

“This was a year when Christmas Eve had become Christmas Day for us Morgans. I loved every minute. But in my heart, I knew that it wasn’t the real day, and in a moment of overflow, I said so to my daughter-in-law.

‘This has been great!’ I murmured to her as we all finished our yummy dinner. ‘But I can’t wait till next year when we get to celebrate Christmas on Christmas!’

Tears welled in her eyes. She’d worked so hard to create a sweet celebration—we all had. But my comment somehow communicated to her that her efforts weren’t enough.

My words burst the joy from the day, leaving it deflated like a popped balloon. Uh-oh. I longed to scoop those syllables back up and shove them down my throat. Obviously, I’d wounded her. And diminished our celebration of Christmas as less than real in the process.

We got through the evening. The next day, the real Christmas Day, Evan and I celebrated alone and enjoyed the surprising blessing of a quiet and restful holy day. But my heart was heavy from the hurt I’d heaped on my dear one.

God nudged me toward a realization that I wasn’t wanting to embrace. Elisa, you’ve had decades to be in charge of Christmas. Maybe it’s time to release the traditions to the next generation . . . ? I didn’t want to hear this. I didn’t want to let go of doing Christmas the way I wanted to do it.

As I’ve shared, Christmas was one of the things my mother did “right” in my opinion. Our traditions wrapped me in safety and happiness when the rest of the year was just plain messy. Re-enacting Christmas my way brought me joy. But was it bringing others joy—the way I was intending?

And by the way, did it bring joy to my Jesus, the One I hoped to celebrate and invite others to know?

It was a long day and evening of tug-of-warring with God. I sensed He wanted me to let go. I didn’t want to. But I wanted to try.

Late in the evening I sent out some texts, asking for forgiveness for my insistence on my own way. I offered to release our traditions to my son and daughter-in-law and to my daughter and son-in-law.

I learned a lot that Christmas. About how I sometimes don’t like the lessons of Christmas—but they are always for my good. What happens if I don’t learn? Or to be more specific, if I turn away and reject what God reveals?“

Reflection questions:

1. If you are a parent of adult children, how does this story resonate with you? Alternatively, if you are the younger person in this story with an older person resistant to change, what feelings does this story stir in you?
2. What not-so-fun lessons have you learned in past Christmas seasons that were for your good? What is one God may be teaching you today that you’d rather not learn, but you know is for your ultimate good?

Pray

On each post during Practical Advent, I’ll write an original prayer or share one I’ve written in seasons past.

Here’s a prayer I wrote a few years ago – A Prayer in the Christmas Overwhelm.

Pour In

Last year, I started using beef tallow products for my dry, sensitive skin. It has made a huge difference, even when eczema and psoriasis flare up. I buy mine from a local friend. You may like THIS ONE from Amazon that a friend recommended to me. You can pour into yourself by applying lotion every day – pause and enjoy the feeling of putting it on your skin.

Pour Out

Many people are feeling depressed during this Christmas season. If you know someone like this, you may not know what to say or do. I encourage you to read this popular post I wrote about depression at Christmas to gain perspective. Your loved one may also appreciate my post, If You’re Starting the New Year with Depression, and you can share it with them HERE.

Also, please follow the advice on this post below from Holley Gerth about what NOT to say – it’s so helpful that I review it regularly.

Just for Fun

I finally got to try the Peanuts-themed Krispy Kreme donuts yesterday. They are available at U.S. locations through Christmas Eve this year. So cute and yummy!

See all new and/or previous posts in this series on THIS PAGE.

Find all my additional resources for Advent on THIS PAGE.

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