Advent (from the Latin word adventus, meaning “coming”) is a season of the Christian church, the period of expectant waiting and preparation for the celebration of the Nativity of Jesus; in other words, the period immediately before Christmas.

Since Advent begins tomorrow, I’m preparing for it this weekend. Some of my favorite Advent activities include:

• Making an Advent wreath and lighting it throughout the season (we’re doing this tomorrow after the church service).
• Listening to Christmas music from the church (current favorite: Christmas with the Tallis Scholars)
• Watching the old Disney cartoon, The Small One.  I watched this as a child, and now as an adult it makes me cry!

This year I am also going to make an effort to work through an Advent specific devotional.  I’ve done this in the past, but I’d love to get back into the habit.  I’ve chosen Love Came Down: Anglican Readings for Advent and Christmas for this year’s readings!  What are some Advent traditions that you honor every year?

For more Advent celebrations, check out the Third Annual Advent Carnival!

However, to me, Christmas has a different meaning. To me, Christmas is a celebration of love in honor of God loving us so much that He gave us His only Son (John 3:16)! Decorating is a fun activity that allows us to spend time together, giving gifts is a thoughtful outward expression of love, and the music is a way to worship and adore Christ.

Yes, I’m well aware that Christmas Day is not the actual date of Christ’s birth, that it was picked for a pagan holiday, yada yada, yada. I don’t really care. Do we think that Memorial Day is a bad idea because it doesn’t actually fall on the day that all the service men and women died? Of course not! We celebrate Memorial Day as a day of remembrance for what has passed. I view Christmas the same way. People get so caught up in the specifics of if it is completely factual that they don’t bother to take it for what it is – a remembrance of the birth of our Savior.

Christmas music holds a particular place in my heart. I love music – always have, and I’m sure I always will. I grew up listening to music, and music has a very strong presence in my life. While there are the secular Christmas songs (Rudolph, Frosty, and all that), I mostly listen to religious Christmas music. And I don’t mean Steven Curtis Chapman’s latest hit – I have strong opinions about the Christian music industry, but that’s best saved for another post.

I mean the songs themselves – “O Holy Night,” “Silent Night,” “Ave Maria,” as well as greater choral works. Many of them are not in English, but as a result of my singing in choirs for so many years, I am able to understand the songs. They seem to hold a feeling of reverence. I love to listen to them as I work, as I am driving, as I am meditating on His word. My musical experience allows me to feel as though His presence is visceral. I love it.

On Sunday evening we went to our church‘s “Lessons and Carols” service. Basically what we did is we read passages from the Bible about the birth of Christ (including the prophecies, so we read from Genesis, Isaiah, Malachi, and Luke), and after each passage there was a song about that portion of the story. Sometimes the congregation sang, sometimes the Cancel Choir sang, sometimes the children’s choir sang . . . it was lovely. It brought so much more to the songs to see their biblical foundations, and it brought a new experience to the Word that I was able to keep humming!

What a joy it is that the Lord gave us not only His Son, but also that He gave us so many ways to worship Him! Listen closely to the Christmas music you hear this season, and remember why we sing these songs, and what they truly represent!

Christmas Piano photo, Originally uploaded by pinkertons.

Who do you see day to day? Your family, close friends, perhaps a neighbor . . . but is that all? If you live in an apartment, don’t you see the landlord from time to time? Or how about those of you who go to get your hair done – don’t you have a stylist? The lady who works at the coffee shop where you get your morning cup, your favorite waiter at that little deli, the people who come and mow your lawn . . . people that you see from day to day who in some way provide a service for you. Do you think of these people when compiling your Christmas list?

“I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.”
Ephesians 1:16

This Christmas, I challenge you to include these people in your gift-giving. A nice card, a plate of cookies, a $5 gift certificate to Starbucks . . . it doesn’t have to be much, or it can be quite elaborate! It’s your way of saying thank you for the hard work that they do. Yes, it may be your job, but don’t you like to be acknowledged for what you do? You never know how your small gesture can affect someone!

Please, share with me how you plan to grace those who make YOUR life easier with a little bit of seasonal love!

Be sure to check out what others are saying about this month’s theme, thanksgiving, on Faith Lifts!