I will never forget the first time I realized that there are Christians who love Jesus but don’t like Christmas. It was late November more than fifteen years ago when I was frantically trying to finish all my assessments and assignments for my certificate in choral conducting before the end of the year. One of the last exams I had to do was in Afrikaans pronunciation at my lecturer’s home. This was the only course she presented in the program so I didn’t know her very well, but from what I could gather she was a single woman in her late forties living on her own. After my assessment, she walked me to my car and the topic of Christmas came up. I probably said something naive about looking forward to Christmas. She responded with a shocking disdain for the festive season. Her body language betrayed a bitterness for what was supposed to be a joyous time of year. Fortunately, I knew better than to debate the issue with her, and on the way home I felt a deep sadness for her, and many others I had never noticed, who feel a deep sadness during the Christmas season instead of the joy Hallmark wants to force on us. Now, after much life experience and a few heartbreaking losses during November, I have a deeper understanding of this pain, but, by the grace of God, I still love celebrating the Lord’s birth.
The Christmas season is my favourite time of year. I love the lights and decorations, delicious food and the excuse to spend precious time with loved ones. I begin humming Christmas carols early in November, justifying my insanity with plans for the annual Christmas carol service or concerts. If my husband didn’t protest I would put up the Christmas tree during the first week of November. But this season is a crazy one too. Everyone is running around trying to wrap up work projects for the year while planning a quick getaway to relax. Credit cards are groaning under the stress of trying to buy happiness. As much as we’d love to celebrate the birth of our Saviour, the pressure to make this the “best Christmas ever” leaves us depressed and exhausted.
This is why it is the perfect time to add an Advent book to our daily to-do list.
When our lives are crazy and the world seems to be turned on its head, we must be reminded that Christ is the reason, not just for the season, but for every season – joyful or weary.
The word “Advent” (from Latin adventus, “coming”) marks the time of anticipation of the coming of Jesus. Just as the Old Testament Jews anticipated the Messiah’s first coming before his birth, modern Christians commemorate this time of waiting every year, starting four Sundays before Christmas with its climax on Christmas day. We look forward to the second coming of Christ and use this time as a reminder of his glorious return.
Join me this Advent as we begin each day with one of the 25 Advent Devotions beautifully wrapped in Jared C. Wilson’s precious little book Gifts of Grace. The devotions are short but jam-packed with theology and scripture that will stir your soul and keep you coming back to Christ throughout the day.
One modern, often secular Advent tradition is the Advent calendar with 24 little “doors” opened every day beginning 1 December, with a treat hidden inside. According to tradition, the calendar was invented by a frustrated mother from Munich who was tired of endless questioning by her children about when Christmas day would finally arrive. Jared Wilson uses this illustration to open a new gift of grace every day leading up to Christmas
Here is the summary from the publisher’s website:
Just as with opening the doors of an Advent calendar day by day, this Advent devotional will build your anticipation for Christmas so that you can fully absorb and enjoy its central gift—Jesus Christ. “My prayer for you is that examining the diamond of the gospel facet by facet for the next 24 days will find you on Day 25 more awestruck and joy-filled about the glory of Christ our Lord. It is only by beholding Christ’s glory that we can be made like him (2 Corinthians 3:18).” Reflecting on a few short verses each day, this devotional examines the wonderful gifts of grace that we receive through the coming of Christ and belief in his gospel.
Author Jared C. Wilson says in his introduction:
I look forward to forcing my heart to be still every morning as you and I reflect on God’s immeasurable Gifts of Grace this Christmas season.
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Get your copy of the book
You can buy the book at the following bookstores:
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Christian Book Discounters (Local South African store)
I can’t wait to start this Advent journey with you. See you on 1 December.
Here is one of my favourite modern Christmas songs to get you in the mood.
