It's only taken him four and a half years but I think my son has finally figured it out, at least in part. Our family does things a little bit differently than other people.
We saw other peoples Christmas displays and he starts in with "We need to get a Christmas tree. We need to do this, we need to do that."
I explained that some people put their stuff up early and we have our Advent wreath and will put ours up soon. (Though 20+ days is really not soon to a four year old. I so remember.) Some people celebrate it before Christmas and take their things down right after and that we put them up closer to Christmas and take them down longer after. So in the meantime we can enjoy other peoples.
But, dear world around me, you are not helping me. Does anyone just celebrate Advent any more? Even my own parents wonder where our tree is around the December teens. My husband saw Christmas trees in Home Depot in EARLY October. Thanksgiving is becoming a forgotten holiday, that even my non believing friend, who is not originally from this country so she had no idea what it was till 1998, understands that Thanksgiving should be a sacred time of year for families to get together. It really doesn't help that there are already decorations up at church in the part that is not the actual sanctuary!
I know, most of you don't get the big deal (My non practicing Catholic brother in law didn't have a good answer for what Advent was-Don't get me started on Catholic education in the Kumbya years...), but Advent is supposed to be a time to look forward to celebrating the coming of the baby Jesus at Christmas. We should, in theory, not already be celebrating His birth. We are to be preparing our hearts for Him to come. Even in the first two weeks of Advent the readings focus on, not Jesus coming as a baby, but at preparing for His second coming!
I didn't used to be this way. I didn't understand either. Just few years ago I welcomed Christmas music on Black Friday, but now I agree with a young priest friend of ours and almost feel I should do as him. When people wish him "Merry Christmas" he says something like Happy Late Advent.
Anyway, that's my little rant about Advent. Thanks for letting me get that out there. Don't get me wrong. There's nothing wrong with a little Christmas music here and there (like on the Christian station I listen to who may realize it is not quite time yet) and I will be sending out my Christmas cards soon. I am willing to meet people where they are at. I just wish we could all understand the beauty of Advent better, myself included. I am still learning. That is all.
As far as my son realizing we are different, I know this is just the beginning. Pray for me in my uphill battle against the grain...
1 comments:
I know what you mean - Thanksgiving and Advent are totally ignored by most (because most people's Christmas preparations have nothing to do with preparing their hearts to remember Jesus' coming). I think we just walk the tightrope of our culture and our convictions as best we can.
As for looking "different" compared to others...yep, it's always interesting with the kiddos. Maybe they'll feel differently in a few years, but now that my girls (9 and 10) understand the differences (which happened about 2 to 3 years ago), they like being different. So the work to help kids understand is worth it. :^)
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