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The Season of Advent is to reflect and prepare our hearts for the ‘coming’ of our Lord and Saviour. This season is usually one that is marked by many activities that are part of our ministry in The Salvation Army. Often times, in the hustle and bustle, we find it difficult to prepare and focus our attention on the birth of Christ. Recognizing this fact and the immense workload of our previous appointments, I had to intentionally find ways of preparing myself spiritually. Some of this ways in which I prepare for the ‘coming’ of Jesus are as follows;

 Decorating the Christmas tree occurs as a family event. Usually after the Christmas parade, our family puts on some Christmas carols and drinks some egg nog as we decorate together. We all have different ‘jobs’ to assist with this but the one thing we all share is the placing of the tree ornaments. As we place on the homemade and significant memorable ornaments, the ‘story’ behind each ornament is shared with the children. The most memorable of these are the children’s ornaments they received on their ‘first Christmas’. This usually raises the story of ‘their birth’. As we share about their birth story, we reflect on the birth story of our Lord and Saviour. Sometimes the questions the boys ask in reflection leaves us with a sense of ‘wonder’ and ‘mystery’ at the birth of Christ.

The giving of our time in some ministry expression. Throughout the years this has varied from helping with hampers or visiting the nursing homes and prisons to helping serve a community Christmas meal. Each experience is unique and although we are tired at the end, the reminder that this tiredness may have been reflective of Mary and Joseph after their long journey to Bethlehem helps prepare my heart once again. 

Christmas Eve celebration. It has been a blessing to live in a city where we have extended family. On Christmas Eve, after all the work has been done for the day, we gather together late into the night to share together as family. Amongst the food and the gifts, and all the people gathered in a small space, is the reminder that the night of our Lord’s birth. I imagine in my mind that it was in a crowded space amidst the ‘hustle of the world around them.’

There are other ways in which I treasure the season of Advent in my heart but I share these because they may not be the traditional ways in which ‘Advent’ is observed. In my life however, they are tangible ways I look forward to in my modern experience of reflecting on and embracing the birth of Christ .