Your Advent: Pause in Advent #2
Do you have happy memories of advent at church? Maybe your school honored Christmas (they don't do that anymore). Did you go holiday shopping often when you were a child? Did you give gifts to your friends? I'm wondering exactly when it is in a lifetime that all of the memories and Christmasy feelings are established. I think maybe our grandchildren are a bit young for appreciating the trimmings of Christmas. My sister and I would "play Christmas" wrapping up our toys in towels and placing them along the wall and then pretending we were opening up exciting gifts. We made sleighs out of shoe boxes and launched our Barbies down the stairs. We loved (and still do) Christmas baking endeavors. Samantha and Lizzy are here for the weekend (Mommy and Daddy are having a staycation at home) and they don't seem that interested in Christmasy doings. When I think of childhood advents my brain sticks upon the tiny plastic creche that was often a gift to us upon the completion of our church Christmas pageant. The tiny scene of the Savior in the manger. The POWER of the Holy Spirit. The SPIRIT is around us now. We're safe for eternity.
Join
Angela for A Pause in Advent
16 comments:
Beautiful post! I'm fearful that many get so wrapped up in the commercialism and shopping of the season that some forget all the wonderful traditions from childhood. I hope we all step back and take a moment to spend some extra time sharing childhood traditions and love.... with our loved ones <3
I'm sure that those Childhood memories of what Christmas is all about starts very early in children's mind. Now Elf on the Shelf seems to have become important to kids. On Christmas morning my two little grandsons, James and Daniel, look to see if they can spot Elf on the Shelf to see what new book he brought them and for the next twelve days of Christmas they expect a new book each morning. A fun way to get them introduced to new books but I wonder about what the message is they get about this magic Elf...
The first decoration that goes up every year is the manger on my buffet. My house is still not decorated but I'm starting today.
Have a blessed Sunday.
Hugs,
JB
HI POM..
a beautiful tree..love the little snowflake garlands(:)
hugs,Patty
I remember the HUGE Advent wreath at church. It was a circle of greens with red bows and the purple, pink, and white candles.
We did not have a creche, but our kids did. I tried very hard to keep Christ in Christmas as a young mom.
Beautiful post. My advent growing up always included books, so many wonderful books that I still treasure today.
The Power of our Savior, Yes!
So thankful for the Spirit. Growing up we did not talk about or celebrate advent at the churches I grew up in. It wasn't until a few years ago that Advent came into my Christmas tradition.
Your tree is gorgeous! Have lots of fun with Samantha and Lizzy!
"The tiny scene of the Savior in the manger. The POWER of the Holy Spirit. The SPIRIT is around us now. We're safe for eternity." My favorite part! I think the glitter and "stuff" sometimes drowns out the important, real message of Christmas. I'll be attempting to turn down some of the noise to think on that message of eternity. :)
You tree looks beautiful. I love the reflection in the red balls.
It is hard work sometimes to keep the real Christmas front row and centre. We always have lots of Nativity scenes around. When the kids were little, they used to play with them so they are a bit bashed but great memories
I don't remember much talk ever of Advent in my Belfast-in-the-seventies Presbyterian childhood. Not that it felt bleak then, but it bears no relation to my boys' Advent. I suppose it was our six years as young parents in our Methodist/Anglican church with its Advent wreath and weekly themed Children's Addresses that made us love it so.
This is a special time of the year. And I am glad that you remind us to keep the true reason for the celebration in our hearts as we tend to get distracted with the glitz and glamor. I grew in in a Christian home, but not a particularly devout one. So Thank You for the inspiration.
Both my husband and I grew up in Catholic families and our fondest memories are of Midnight Mass; neither of our families necessarily celebrated Advent the way we do now with our family. Today it's the candles and readings and the decorating of the house, Advent gifts for the kids, and lots and lots of good books that only come out at this time of year. :)
I don't think I even heard of Advent until I was in college! We didn't have an Advent calendar when I was growing up, which would have made me familiar with the word at least. I used to make an Advent calendar for my children, though none of the churches we were in then said anything about Advent. There is a great lack of common traditions in our society and so many people want to make up their own individual customs even when they don't have to. When I got married I received a set of rich Christmas traditions that very much loved, but I also wanted to add a few :-)
I think I'm dragging my heels because I refuse to buy into all that commercialism and am seriously questioning it this year. I hope we are all safe for eternity but this state of world affairs is getting me down too. xxx
I love Christmas and as far as I am aware always have. I don't have specific memories of much of my childhood except of warmth and love. I think sometimes the younger generation need to be led to the traditions and gently envelop them in them. They may not seem keen or interested now but persevere as its builds a bs kg round memory bank even if not remembered in cystal clear vision. Sending lots and lots of Christmas joy your way x
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