Advent, the Family, and Kids’ Sports

Elaine Sinnott challenges families to create true stillness in their homes this Advent season. 

Before God and the Family? 

“I am the Lord thy God, thou shalt not have strange gods before me,” I read out loud as I sat with my third grader to teach him his religion lesson for the day. Then I proceeded to read to him how this commandment means we should never put strange gods like money, a job, or sports above our Lord — that He is the most important thing.  

He nodded his head and understood. We discussed always putting God first, that we are never to skip Sunday Mass for a soccer game or a ninja competition. We discussed that when he grows up, his job is given to him by God and he should always put God first in all he does. My son understood and agreed it is very important. 

But suddenly, I heard the question in my heart: Are you putting your family second? The next most important thing?  

Or have we, even in a Christian society, let the priority of family slip further and further down our list?  

The Next Thing 

I felt very convicted as I reflected on the number of nights we had together as a family just a couple of years ago compared to the few we have as a family now. We sign up for the next sport or activity once one ends because we think that’s what we are supposed to do. 

I suddenly realized we actually have permission from God to say no to this — this is not His plan for us!  

This lifestyle leads to constant rushing and no stillness, and with no stillness – no time for God. We are teaching our children life must constantly be busy by creating this life before their eyes, which makes their ability of hearing the voice of God in their lives nearly impossible.  

If they grow up not hearing the voice of God, they will grow up lost. 

Are moms and dads making intentional time for dates and nurturing their marriages? Or are they passing ships getting kids from one activity to the next? 

Are families sitting down for dinner together most nights of the week? Are Mom and Dad looking into their kids’ eyes each night and having genuine connecting conversations with them? Or have we slowly slipped into a society of productivity and no interaction? 

We must re-claim our families while we still have time.  

What Are We Putting Above Our Vocation? 

I recently listened to a phenomenal episode of the Lila Rose podcast where she interviewed Adam Lane Smith. I highly recommend it to every parent out there, because all of his information is so convicting about the vocation of motherhood and fatherhood.  

Smith asked this question:  

“What are you putting above your calling that God has given you? God has given you children to raise; there is nothing more important than that. Your purpose right now is to raise them into healthy human beings who give and receive love.”  

This struck me as I listened, only a day or two after reflecting on the First Commandment with my son. I realized if we are putting more time into rushing from one thing to the next, we will never have time for the most important calling in our lives: to form children who give and receive love. 

Abbie Halberstadt shared on another episode of the Lila Rose podcast,  

“Motherhood can make us feel pretty weak sometimes and that can feel like a disadvantage, it can feel like a bad thing, but when it makes us recognize our need for Christ, it is in fact a very good thing.”  

Even though this is the harder thing, this is the thing that brings us closer to Christ, and in turn, brings our families to Christ.  

We must stop running from the hard thing and instead, run toward it. We must run toward our spouses and our children and time with them. 

A friend, who is extremely successful in the world’s eyes, was recently talking with me about her young teenagers: “My kids are at the age now where they don’t want to spend time with me. It’s great.” I could see the hurt in her eyes as she tried to laugh it off.  

This absolutely broke my heart. Is this what we are forming as a society?  

An Advent Challenge 

Advent is a time to be still, spend time with the Lord, and prepare for His coming as the Christ Child. Does your family schedule allow this? 

Give yourselves permission to skip one, two, or three practices this Advent season so you may be still as a family together. Instead of the loud, busy nights away from each other, spend more nights at home together as a family around the table in the stillness of the lit candles on your Advent wreath. Re-claim your family. There is no greater calling. 

Ask yourselves: What is God’s image for our family?

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Copyright 2025 Elaine Sinnott
Images: Canva