Raise your hand if you love the holiday season, but also slightly squirm at the idea of an overfilled calendar and an extra-long to-do list? (*insert deep inhale + exhale here*)
I see you, sister.
December usually starts with hope and optimistic anticipation. However, somewhere by mid-December I usually find myself running on my last fumes provided by adrenaline and caffeine. You too? With every day that passes by in December, I start feeling the weight of all the things “I still have to do” get heavier on my shoulders, and that “optimistic anticipation” I once felt starts fading away quicker than I can say “Christmas Shopping”. As I have conversations with my mama friends, I realize that I’m not alone in this.
A few years ago, something lit up inside of me: a desire to slow down and align myself with what truly matters for me and my household in the season. This is when I started to learn about Advent.
Over the last few years, I’ve slowly incorporated the peaceful and powerful practice of observing the Advent Season and I’ve realized one thing: it calms my heart and aligns me with the heart of the Season in a way that nothing else in December does. So much so that here I am writing about it to try and help some of my fellow mommas.
What is the Advent Season?
The word “advent” means “coming” and the arrival of a notable person, thing, or event.
In the Advent season, we celebrate the original coming of Christ on the very first Christmas night (which is considered to be the first Advent) and we simultaneously anticipate the second coming of Christ (the Second Advent). We celebrate the salvation, hope, and grace that we already have in Christ while at the same time we anticipate the return of Jesus in His second coming. Advent is a way to press pause and meditate on the relief this brings to our hearts each day.
Here are a few practices that have helped me press the pause button and savor the Advent season.
Advent Study
A Scripture-based Advent Study is a practical way to press pause daily and align ourselves with the true meaning of Christmas. Studies usually consist of an overall theme to focus on all season, a daily devotional along with some scripture. Some studies even include some fun Christmas-themed recipes and crafts!
The Advent Wreath
Have you ever heard of Advent Wreath? I hadn’t until last year and it became my favorite visual to observe the Advent season. You will usually find 4-5 candles on an Advent Wreath. Each candle has a meaning. The candles symbolize hope, love, joy, and peace and the 5th candle symbolizes the light of Christ. Each Sunday, one candle is lit. Each time you see the candle, it serves as a beautiful reminder to focus on the meaning of that Sunday’s candle.
Kids Advent Calendar
A scripture-based kids advent calendar makes for a great way to get your kids in on the meaningful fun! We usually keep ours on the dining table and it’s the topic of conversation each night. My 5-year-old daughter loves the beautiful illustrations and is so excited that she’s usually the one to remind us about it every night!
Not sure where to start? Here are some of our favorite Advent Season Studies!
Advent for Exiles
This special advent devotional will feature 25 devotions to awaken Christmas hope in a longing heart. In 2020, Cobb released “A Seed, A Sunrise,” an album that explored the ache of Advent, the joy of Christmas, and the expectant yearning for Christ’s return. That album inspires this Advent devotional as she dives deeper into the poetic imagery of Isaiah and the biblical theme of exile. Throughout the 25-day devotional, Cobb weaves Scripture readings, song lyrics, poetic prose, biblical imagery, and responsive exercises to help readers joyfully celebrate Christ’s first arrival while deeply longing for His second.
Advent Blocks from GoodKind
Advent Blocks is a tangible, meaningful practice to help kids—and parents—anticipate Jesus, not just presents during the month of December. Each day you read a story, turn a block, and celebrate that God is coming to earth—to stay!
Little Hearts, Prepare Him Room
Little Hearts, Prepare Him Room is a family Advent devotional designed to grow alongside the hearts of your little ones. With scriptures primarily from the gospels of Luke and Matthew and themes from the Westminster Confession of Faith, both content and reflection questions intend to address the heart of the matter: what God says about us in His Word and how His truth shapes our lives.
Christmas Around the World
This is a four-week guide designed for families with children ages 5-12. Each week focuses on a different country (Germany, Sweden, Great Britain, and Mexico), featuring engaging activities and Christmas traditions from around the globe, along with picture book recommendations. This guide is Scripture-rich and simple to implement, even for busy families!
Come to the Manger Christmas Guide by Brighter Day Press
This 4-week Christmas guide from Brighter Day Press is designed for ages 3 to 7, but can certainly include older and younger siblings as well. The plans include lessons for 4 days each week, leaving Friday as a catch-up day or to fill with your own family’s Christmas traditions.
Emmanuel by Ruth Chou Simons // Harvest House Publishers
Emmanuel is a gorgeously illustrated Advent exploration of what it means to intimately experience God’s presence in our daily lives. Ruth Chou Simons welcomes you and your family to partake in a season of surrender as you discover the true miracle behind Christmas: that while we journey to grow in our relationships with Jesus, He has already come so He can be with us forever.
Awaiting the Manger: Whispers of Advent in the Old Testament
Celebrate the hope of Christmas as you witness how God has written the promise of Immanuel, “God with us,” into human history! Awaiting the Manger journeys with you through the Advent season, illuminating how God used the lives of ordinary people to foreshadow Christ’s coming during the centuries and even millennia before his birth.
HelloBible Junior and Explorer Boxes
Bring the Bible to life for your kids and grandkids in fun ways every month! Enjoy engaging crafts, Bible stories, games, and fun lessons. Perfect gift for kids ages 3-10.
Enter to Win an Advent Resource
At Miami Mom Collective we want to equip you with the tools and encouragement you need to savor this special season. Visit the Instagram and Websites of the businesses above to grab your advent resources and check out our Instagram to enter to win one of these awesome Advent resources.
Advent is my favorite! I love the Jesse Tree resource, and will definitely check it out. Thank you!
Love these resources! So great to refocus ourselves and our families on the true reason we celebrate Christmas!
Great ideas!! Christ-focused but also stress-free to make it practical & accessible.
Love these! I’m exciting to try the Jesse tree this year!
I love the advent wreath.
I have a few devotionals from Daily Grace Co. I need to snag their advent bundle !
This was a nice read and gave me a deeper understanding of an advent calendar. Your recommendations are all beautiful choices. Thanks!
Excellent initiative!
Such a great informative post and giveaway!! 🙂
Love this!