Many years ago, at the beginning of the Advent season, I was sitting in church listening to a sermon by our deacon. He was talking about how this was a season of preparation for the coming of Jesus. In all my years growing up in the church, I never paid too much attention to the true meaning of the Advent season.
These four weeks before Christmas were full of putting up and decorating the Christmas tree, shopping for presents, watching movies on TV like Miracle on 34th Street, going to parties, making Christmas cookies and then going to Christmas Eve service.
So, when the deacon said that the season is a time of “Joyful Waiting”, something clicked. I began to absorb the deep meaning of the season, it could be a time of contemplation, preparation and spiritual reflection.
This year, as Advent approached, I was really feeling uplifted thinking about hope and joyfully waiting. However, sadly, that’s not really what happened. I started to feel depressed and overwhelmed. I’d been doing some shopping for the young people in my family and the holiday crowds just depressed me. The blow-up Santas and Peanuts characters in people’s yards brought my spirits down instead of up.
Have you perhaps felt this way, too? I love Christmas, it’s just that sometimes the weeks leading up can become too much. You, too?
After some prayer and reflection, I realized that I had forgotten to do my joyful waiting. I had forgotten to deeply do my seasonal reflection. Generally, it has also been a time to reflect on how I want my life to unfold spiritually, physically and mentally in the new year. I listened to one of my favorite Advent songs, O Come, O Come, Emmanuel. Here it is in case you’d like to listen to it.
I just decided to make time to reflect on the past year and the coming year. I spent time outdoors walking and reflecting. I decided to recommit to joyfully wait and prepare for Jesus’ coming. My mood improved immediately.
So, my friend, we still have 2 weeks left in the Advent season. How would you like to prepare for Christmas? Joyfully waiting or being stressed and overwhelmed? What could you start doing today that might lift you up spiritually, physically or mentally?
My prayer is that you can deeply again connect with your inner self and take some time to rest, reflect and joyfully wait for the wonder of Christmas.
In light and love,
Jane
Jane Springer is a certified Life, Wellness and Style Coach who assists women in taking care of themselves, in body, mind and spirit. She coaches women who want to lose weight, avoid diabetes, and feel great. She also helps them thrive after divorce. She also helps them to clear their closets of old clothes and outdated attitudes, so they can shine and feel confident.