Growing in Humility and Love During Advent

Colleen Mallette offers ideas on how to remember the true “Reason for the Season” throughout Advent.

Remember what Christmas is all about

“Remember the Reason for the Season” is a phrase that I love to use and even a sign I put out in my house when I decorate. It is a reminder to all who read it that Christmas is about the birth of Jesus our Savior — not Santa Claus.  

Our materialistic, commercialized culture (and Amazon) want you to believe that Christmas is all about buying that perfect (and expensive) gift for everyone on your shopping list. Or having the biggest, most perfectly decorated Christmas tree that is worthy to be in a home magazine.   

As we get ready for Christmas Day, we need to remember that preparing our hearts to welcome Jesus in remembrance of His historical first coming is the most important thing we can be doing this Advent. Then this preparation continues long after December 25th because we should always be striving to be ready for His second coming as well, which could happen any day.  

How to prepare your hearts for Christmas Day  

Pray

There are many daily Advent prayer opportunities online, in books, and in our churches. Make sure to take time daily to thank God for the joyful season of Advent, to thank His Son Jesus for the sacrifice of leaving heaven to come to earth as a lowly baby, to thank the Holy Spirit for helping grow our minds and hearts to a more loving relationship with Him this season, and to thank Mary for her humble ‘Yes’ to be willing to be the mother of our Savior and our whole Church. 

Fast

Even though this is Advent and not Lent, setting aside a little time each week for intentional fasting is beneficial. Giving up coffee or chocolate or social media scrolling one day a week with the intention of remembering Jesus’ sacrifice for our sakes whenever we are tempted is a beautiful way to grow in humility and love for our Lord. 

Attend special church services

Check your area church bulletins and websites for upcoming Advent services and try to attend at least one. Most have beautiful musical services that incorporate all the different choirs and Scripture readings. Find a Giving Tree program and have each child pick a tag and help shop and wrap it. Have your children donate an old toy before Christmas so that they feel a part of the notion of giving (plus it makes room for the new toys).  

Pray around the Advent wreath

Have an Advent wreath on your kitchen table and try to have full family dinners around it every night. There are set prayers and intentions available online, but you can make up your own and have each child take a night of the week. These prayers explain the different colors of the candles and ways to prepare our hearts for Christmas day. 

Enjoy the Christmas story with your children

Make sure your children know the true story of the first Christmas, whether it is by reading Luke’s Gospel or other books, watching movies (The Best Christmas Pageant Ever is a new one that lovingly shows the story in a modern way), or talking about the crêche in your home. These ways also are a reminder to you of how to prepare your heart for the birth of Jesus. 

Balance your time

Make a list of priorities for your family so that your time is spent doing what is most important or memorable and letting go other things that you might be squeezing in just because it was tradition. Keep God and family at the top of your daily to-do list, and also allow empty time on your calendar to just be able to be spontaneous — like a game night, driving around looking at lights, or a snowball fight.  

Balance your emotions

Remain humble and focused on the important things this season: God, family, and health. Focusing on each of those and not getting stressed or anxious about the rest of the things keeps your priorities right, which helps your mental health. Making sure you still get your rest, eat right, and maintain a reasonable pace of life makes for a calmer attitude. Staying joyful and positive at all times makes whatever you are doing more enjoyable, for yourself and those around you.   

Stay humble like Mary

Little teenage Mary carried baby Jesus in her womb for nine months, trusting God to take care of them. She willingly went with her husband on a last-minute trip late in her pregnancy, delivered her first baby without the help of a doctor or midwife in a dirty stable without complaining, kindly welcomed smelly shepherds as their first visitors, and humbly figured out how to take care of a newborn all by herself. Be like Mary this season — give God the glory for what you get accomplished, humbly let go of the things you can’t get to, and show compassionate love to others every day, remembering the joy of the “Reason for the Season!” 

How do you encourage your family to focus on the coming of Christ during Advent?

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Copyright 2024 Colleen Mallette
Images: Canva