Advent 2015 - My Thoughts

Advent is here. Advent booklets sent out from your home parish left unread on the table or night stand; penance services scheduled but you are too busy; or racing to the mall on Black Friday to buy more material objects for you or your kids. Advent is upon us and it is a busy time of year, granted. However,  we must stop - right now - just stop and think about what all the busyness is about. Advent is both about us waiting for Christ to return to us as well as celebrating his earthly birth. What a joyous time of year! No wonder we are happy and festive and decorating and buying gifts and celebrating! 

But this is the time to stop and create memories and traditions for your family; to light the Advent wreath in your home; to read the stories of the birth of Jesus; and celebrate the Good News with your children and grandchildren. God has a funny way of forcing your hand sometimes when you are not thinking straight - case in point: My husband and I went to the store the other day and picked up a few items for our grandsons who we will be spending Christmas with. These four boys are amazing kids and unique as the pebbles in a river. We bought a big, stuffed Mickey Mouse for one of our grandsons who is absolutely obsessed with Mickey. The next day I was FaceTiming with our kids and in the background was the exact stuffed Mickey that we had purchased just the day before. I sent a text to my husband to tell him what I had seen. His response was that we can take it back to the store and find something else for him. In the meantime, an email arrived stating that my place of work would have Toy for Tots boxes in various locations. Instead of taking the Mickey back to the store, we are going to donate it to Toy for Tots and pray that it finds a little boy or girl whose eiyes will light up on Christmas morning. Now that is the image we should have. Don't wait for the brick wall from God to drop on your head - do it now and do it often!

I am not saying to not buy your kids or grandkids gifts at Christimas. But you should not forgot those who are in a difficult place this Christmas. Donate food, clothes, baby items, and toys as often as you can. Don't forget that giving of ourselves is also part of our call as Christians. Volunteering, teaching at your parish or church, driving a neighbor to a doctor's appointment, or just sitting with an elder person who is lonely. Do whatever you can do for others and pray for world peace - we need peace! 

God bless you and enjoy your Advent and Christmas Season.....Have a very Merry Christmas and a wonderfully happy and peaceful New Year.