Advent: A Moment to Reflect


It's Cyber Monday.  That could mean one of two things.  You either took the day off of work so that your boss doesn't walk by and confiscate your credit card for indulging in on-line shopping during work hours OR you just realized that, with only 23 days left before Christmas, that there is no way, and I mean NO WAY you will ever have that giant to-do list done in time.  After a moment of panic and anxiety you wonder, how did my entire family's expectations of Christmas come to rest on MY shoulders?

Today is also the second day of Advent. I have to remind myself of this, because, while I love pinning projects and coordinating my wrapping paper and sending out hundreds of cards, it is only beneficial if my heart is in the right place. My heart needs to be open to receive The Newborn King. This is what my family needs. They need a mom that can not only set the physical stage for Christmas, but more importantly, set the spiritual stage for Christmas.



So, today, on Cyber Monday, take a moment and light candle. Find some silence in your day so that you can pause for The Silent Night. Looking for an Advent Devotional?  Try THIS ONE!


Wishing you a Season of Reflection and Joy!

Rachel

Comments

rebecca @ beurrista said…
I so needed your words of encouragement today. I'm feeling grinchy and irritable today for a variety of stupid reasons. Hope you are managing your lists and expectations with grace!
December 2, 2013 at 12:23 PM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Butter Bean Soup

Image
Happy New Year!  We are off to a cold start! It's so cold that the Governor cancelled school for the entire state! That never happens. Up here in Minnesota, when it gets cold, we just pull up our snow pants and pull down our hats.  In the South, they say it's not the heat, it's the humidity.  Up North, we say it's not the cold, it's the wind.  Windchill temperatures (what it actually feels like), are said to be -40 to -50 degrees Fahrenheit. That's the coldest it's been since 1996 - just shortly before we moved to Atlanta.  Hmmmm…… it's all coming back to me now.  Nevertheless, my 16-year old says it's a great way to start second semester! When it's cold outside, there is nothing I love more than making soup. Soup is the perfect excuse to stand over a hot stove on a cold day. You can hold soup in a coffee mug and let it warm your hands. You can sip soup in the same mug and let it warm you from the inside out. There's a reason for ...
Read more

Dr. Seuss Snacks!

Image
One fish, two fish, red fish, blue fish.  I admit it.  I love Dr. Seuss!  A collection of these sing-song-y rhymes was the first thing I put on the bookshelves of our very first baby nursery.  Four kids later, I now have talents that include being able to recite The Cat In The Hat from memory! In honor of the late great Dr. Seuss (He would have been 107 on March 2nd) we are making these cute snacks!  Absolutely no skill or talent required! Simply start with a box of blue Jell-O..... and divide into four clear plastic cups. (The fish have to have a place to swim!) After the Jell-O has set, have the kids add their own fish!  (Swedish Fish, that is!) Ella's kindergarten class gets a Dr. Seuss party after they have collectively read 107 books! Happy Birthday, Dr. Seuss!
Read more

Groundhog Pudding Cups

Image
Now that we are back living in The North, I'm starting to remember why, prior to my life in The South, I had only had a handful of pedicures and didn't own any sandals.  Exposing one's feet presents health risks.  Like frostbite. Groundhog's Day (February 2nd) is just around the corner. At this time, as legend has it, the groundhog will either emerge from its hole on a sunny day, see its shadow, get scared, and hide leaving us with six more weeks of winter, or it will emerge on a cloudy day, see nothing noteworthy and predict an early spring.  Sunny or not, a package of Pepperidge Farm Milano's was all the inspiration I needed to celebrate the impending season. When I first saw these cookies in Family Fun magazine, I immediately tore out the page. How cute are these groundhogs?  The actual assembly is a bit tedious, but the eager anticipation of the recipients makes it all worth while. Begin with some Milano cookies.  Use sliced almonds for ...
Read more