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Caitrin Bennett reviews Gary Zimak's short daily devotional to help readers find Christ’s peace among the hustle and bustle of His birthday season. 


Find Peace in Advent!: 4 Weeks to Worrying Less at Christmas

by Gary Zimak
Published by Ave Maria Press

What comes to mind when you think about the Advent season? If you’re like me, you picture yourself rushing around, decorating, shopping for gifts, attending tons of parties, and trying to make things as magical as possible for your children.

But shouldn’t preparing for the birth of the Prince of Peace be … peaceful? Enter Find Peace in Advent!: 4 Weeks to Worrying Less at Christmas by Gary Zimak. 

 

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This short, daily devotional is structured just like the previous Give Up Worry for Lent! Zimak includes one short passage from the daily readings, a reflection on that passage, a call to respond with some particular action on our part, and a prayer. All told, an entry is only two or three pages and would be easily managed in five minutes a day. However, I also appreciated that the notations for the full daily readings are also given so that anyone who wants to can look them up easily. 

 

Encouragement to grow in God's love

I love the lighthearted, encouraging tone of this book. In a time of year when I just can’t imagine taking on one more “call to respond” to anyone, I actually look forward to using this book this upcoming Advent. This is because the “calls to respond” here are things like realizing that God loves you so much that it pains Him to see you so overwhelmed, or to remember that God rejoices over the simple fact that you are His. The yoke here is easy, the burden light. 

Find Peace in Advent! includes the readings and associated reflections for each day of the Advent season, including separate entries for the Sundays of liturgical years A, B, and C (the daily readings remain the same each year). It concludes with a reflection for Christmas Day and an encouragement to keep the peace of Christ alive throughout the coming year. If you are looking to do something new spiritually this Advent, but don’t want to make the season even more stressful, make sure to grab a copy of this gentle book before December 1! 

 

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Ask for Find Peace in Advent! at your local Catholic bookseller, or order online from Amazon.com or the publisher, Ave Maria Press. 

 

Is this a book you'd like to read? Share your thoughts with the Catholic Mom community! You'll find the comment box below the author's bio and list of recommended articles.


Copyright 2024 Caitrin Bennett
Images: Canva