Advent and Christmas are really the most wonderful times of the year. I have always rejoiced in the spirit of Christmas and since having our son, it seems that the season has become even more joyful as we are now looking at it through his young, pure and precious viewpoint.
"I give you praise, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike.” (Luke 10:21) I love sharing these seasons with our little love who is full of amazement and excitement each time we partake in any of our Advent preparations and celebrations. Even going to the Sacrament of Reconciliation brought him so much joy by simply praying with us together before confession, then with my husband and then me separately as we both waited our turns to confess and then praying our penance after. He giggles with excitement each morning when he gets to see where we’ve moved the Little Christmas Angel and he loves to bring her to see the Baby Jesus in the manger. What made my heart swell the most is what happened today. Our son loves to stand near the Nativity which we set up on a table which is his height (he’s almost two) and he sometimes picks up the pieces and shows us and then we tell him to “gently” put them back down. Today, he picked up Baby Jesus and made me kiss Him. Then he put Jesus back in the manger and picked up the Blessed Mother and lovingly said “mama” as he put her next to Jesus. I am so blessed to understand the real reason for the season and even blessed to have my son showcase it to me in the sweetest ways. At first, I literally squealed with joy hearing my love call the Blessed Mother, “mama” while nestling Her next to Jesus. Then I realized that God wants me to be like my son. He wants me to sit down for a moment and admire the Nativity and to place myself in those times, thousands of years ago. To remember that the reason for these celebrations and preparations is because the Blessed Mother’s Yes brought salvation and the brightest Christmas light to the world. “I am the handmaiden of the Lord; let it be to me according to your Word" (Luke 1:38) When I was pregnant with our son, my husband and I discussed various topics and made many decisions based on thoughtful research and consideration. One of those decisions was about Christmas and Santa Clause. Ultimately, we decided that we would not raise our son and future children to “believe in Santa Clause” as we feel that it could potentially dull that bright Christmas light. Let me reiterate that this is a judgement free, you-do-you, zone and while I am sharing our view and decision on the matter, I am not suggesting that anyone else change their decisions. We do not think badly of parents or families whose children believe in Santa Clause and will certainly advise our son to “not ruin Santa” for other children who may believe. We also plan on celebrating Saint Nicholas’s feast Day with our little love annually on December 6th. Stay tuned for more on that! Here are a few reasons in which we decided to not “let our son believe in Santa Clause.” Jesus is the reason for the season That’s it, no one else. Not Santa, Saint Nicholas, or dancing snowmen or La Befana: an old woman who delivers gifts to children in Italy on the Epiphany Eve, or elves or reindeer. Jesus Christ is the only reason for the season: CHRISTMAS. My husband and I felt like we were lied to. When I was told that Santa Claus was not “real” and that my mother had been the one to read my letters, eat the cookies, drink the milk, buy and wrap the toys and settle them under the Christmas tree, I felt betrayed. I had a feeling that Santa wasn’t real for a while but always thought that if my mom was telling me he was real, he must be real. My husband mirrored that feeling. I don’t want to chance my son ever feeling betrayed by me and my husband. It made me doubt if Jesus Christ was real. To expand further on the last point, when I found out Santa Clause was not real, I started to doubt other “people” that my mom had told me about: the tooth fairy, the Easter bunny, Jesus and God. Woah! Now, as a parent, when I think of how I questioned if Jesus Christ and God were real it makes me mentally pump the brakes and take a huge step back. I never want my husband and my actions to cause my son or future children to question if Jesus Christ and God are real. "Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." John 20:9 Jesus Christ is God and King. When I believed in Santa Clause, I thought he had “magical powers.” Like how he could, somehow, quietly sneak into my locked and alarmed home and, somehow, have enough time to visit all the children around the world in one night. I figured that since I was told that Jesus Christ was able to do things like walk on water that, of course, I could also believe that Santa Clause could do things like fit an unimaginable number of gifts for children all around the world in a sleigh pulled by flying reindeer. God would surely have these powers to do these Christmas things, so I reasoned, as a child would, that Santa Claus must be like a god. That is something else that we do not want our son to misconstrue. “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” Exodus 20:3 It can take away from the real reason for the season. How many parents have said: “You better be good, because Santa is watching and if you’re naughty he won’t get you presents.” We want our son to be good not so that he will get something in return, but so that he can be good for himself, his own self-worth and so that he can be good for others. We also do not want our son to misconstrue the season of Advent and Christmas to be revolved around a bunch of weeks leading up to the big day when he gets presents from Santa. Jesus Christ is the best gift ever. Again, expanding on the last post, while our son does receive gifts at Christmas, that is secondary. The primary, true gift of the season comes from, again, the real reason: Jesus Christ. There is absolutely no better gift in the entire universe than the love and salvation that comes from Jesus Christ. We are blessed to receive Jesus Christ each time we participate in the Blessed Sacraments of the Eucharist and Reconciliation. Christmas reminds us of these irreplaceable and sacred gifts that can’t be purchased in any store or website. What will we do about Santa instead? As a part of educating our child on cultures, customs and traditions throughout the world, we will certainly explain to him that some people celebrate Christmas with Santa Clause. It doesn’t make it wrong for them to celebrate Christmas that way, but that is not how we celebrate. When we see “Santa” we call him Saint Nicholas. While of course, as our son gets older he will hear others call him “Santa" and we will explain that some children believe in “Santa” and that is okay. We will also tell him that some people do not know about Saint Nicholas just like some people do not know about Jesus ☹. But, we as Catholics, are here to spread the good news. So, we will remind our son about the real Saint Nicholas and all the good that he did, just as Jesus Christ wanted. We also pray that our son does good in this world as well, just as Jesus Christ wants. How do you and your family celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ? Please share with us on Facebook! As always, thank you for reading. God bless you and may the Blessed Virgin Mary be with you always!
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Today marks the beginning of the Advent season! Advent is a time in which we, as Catholics, prepare and celebrate in anticipation of the coming of our Savior Jesus Christ. Before coming back to the Catholic faith, I had always understood that Christmas is when Jesus Christ was born to the Virgin Mary in Bethlehem. However, outside of that I didn’t know much more about Christmas or Advent. I viewed Christmas in a more commercialized light: shopping, gifts, baking, Christmas music, cooking, spending time with family, Christmas parties, etc... While all of those are certainly ways in which to celebrate the season, it was not until I came back to the Church that I finally understood how remarkable the Advent season is. The Advent season lasts for four Sundays leading up to Christmas. In ways, Advent is like Lent when we are preparing ourselves for a coming of Jesus Christ. In the Lenten Season, we are preparing ourselves for the Resurrection of Jesus Christ: Easter. During the Lenten season I knew to abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday and on all Fridays, to go to confession and make personal sacrifices. I’ve now learned that all those methods are also ways in which we can prepare ourselves during Advent for Christmas. During the Advent season, we prepare for Christmas with prayer, penance and fasting. Advent also gives us joyful times for celebration. Here is how our family is preparing and celebrating this Advent. 1. Advent Wreath “The Advent Wreath represents the long time when people lived in spiritual darkness, waiting for the coming of the Messiah, the Light of the world. Each year in Advent people wait once again in darkness for the coming of the Lord, His historical coming in the mystery of Bethlehem, His final coming at the end of time, and His special coming in every moment of grace.” (EWTN.com) After dinner, our family gathers around our Advent Wreath and my husband will light the candle or candles. Then we read from our Advent book which includes prayers and meditations. EWTN offers prayers online for each day of Advent, visit: http://www.ewtn.com/adven 2. Rooted In Hope This year, I treated my mother and I to a pre-Christmas gift. The Advent Scripture journal, “Rooted in Hope" from Take Up and Read. The study began on November 30th, the Feast of Saint Andrew. Each night, we have been reading and working on the journal together. “For each day, you'll find Scripture, a devotional essay, pages for lectio divina, and space to organize your days.” (Takeupandread.com) . 3. The Little Christmas Angel This Little Christmas Angel is something that my son has loved from the moment I opened the box! The Little Christmas Angel is an angel from Bethlehem during the days when Jesus was born. The little angel was “too small to make it to the stable to greet Baby Jesus.” So instead, she shares God’s message that “All Children are Good;” first in Bethlehem, and then in your house too, filling up every room with Christmas spirit. She only travels at night, while everyone is asleep, and you never know where you’ll find her the next morning! She keeps the whole family happy and involved in all the days leading up to Christmas.” (thelittlechristmasangel.com) I especially love The Little Christmas Angel, because unlike the elf, the Little Christmas Angel has everything to do with the Birth of Jesus Christ and brings excitement and joy to the wonderful season of Advent. “The Little Christmas Angel takes the focus off consumerism and who’s naughty and who’s nice, and replaces it with the idea that ALL children are good, and Christmas fills us with joy that lasts all year long.” (thelittlechristmasangel.com) 4. Sacrament of Reconciliation Last week, my family and I (our little love included) went to confession. When my husband and I got to the car after confession, we told each other how when we each took our turn confessing, we both asked our son if he wanted to confess too. He animatedly nodded that he, too, wanted to confess. I felt a little bad asking him since I was not expecting his excited reaction when I asked. Luckily, he is still easily distracted and quickly moved onto practicing his Sign of the Cross. I pray that he is always vigorous and “all systems go” about The Sacrament of Reconciliation for all his life. I pray that I draw inspiration from his reaction each time I need to confess. As during Lent, the Sacrament of Reconciliation, is a very important aspect of our preparing for the apex of the season: Christmas. What better way to prepare for the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ, than to purify our souls? When Christmas Day comes, I would like to have ‘wiped my slate clean’ by confession and receiving absolution for my sins so that I can fully enjoy and celebrate the Birth of our Lord. Remember, when we confess our sins to a Priest, we are confessing to the Priest in Persona Christi, to Jesus Christ. 5. Fasting Unfortunately, I am not one of the people that can go very long without food. I am extremely sensitive to not eating or drinking and become very ill if I go too long without food. Since abstaining from food or drink is not the only way to fast, I have found another way to fast for God. Each Friday, I have decided to avoid eating meat. It is a very small, yet effective sacrifice that I offer up to God and I will continue abstaining from meat on Fridays long after the Advent season. There are other ways to fast, which do not include food. Those methods can be found here: catholicexchange.com/10-ways-can-fast 6. Advent Calendar This is another favorite Advent celebration for my son. My husband’s Godmother gifted my son an Advent Calendar for Christmas last year and we have been looking forward to using it this year with him. What I love most about this Advent Calendar is that each day comes with a little book which contains a short Bible story, prayer, psalm or Christmas song. There is one book per day, and after we are finished with it my son especially likes hanging the book on a special, small Christmas tree. This Advent Calendar is certainly something that we will enjoy with him year after year. 7. Giving
While I was growing up, my mother would always make it a point to explain to me that there were some families and children that did not get to have presents at Christmas. We would also make sure to donate at Christmastime. Ever since then, I’ve tried to continue to donate during the Christmas season. When I was a teenager, my family and I were at the mall shopping for Christmas. There was a toy drive going on in the food court and I went and bought some toys for the drive. Now, our Church puts up a Giving Tree each year in which parishioners can take a tag and go shopping for someone in our community that is in need. Just as the Wise Men brought gifts to Jesus, we, too, should give gifts to our neighbors. 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.' (Matthew 25:41) For our family, the point of Advent is to slow down and focus on the real reason for the season: the coming of Jesus Christ. It is also a time for us to learn more about our rich Catholic faith and to engrave in our hearts and souls the true meaning of following Jesus Christ. Throughout this Advent season, these items mentioned above will allow me and my family to imagine and place ourselves ‘back in time’ to those special moments with our Blessed Mother. Saint Joseph and Jesus Christ. How are you and your family preparing and celebrating this Advent? Please share with us on Facebook! As always, thank you for reading. God bless you and may the Blessed Virgin Mary be with you always! Sometimes motherhood looks like this: me sitting on the floor of my son’s room, by his crib, holding his hand during nap time because he is sick with a head cold while I try to get some work done with the other hand. This was a picture I took earlier this week and sent to my husband when he asked how nap time was going. Sure, my to-do list was overflowing as usual, but my sweet boy needed me more. While we sleep trained our son at 14 months (let’s all remember this is a judgment-free zone-- you do you) since our little love is nearing his second birthday (eek!) he has started to have some sleep regression both at naptime and bedtime. Coupled with the fact that he has been fighting a very nasty cold, his sleep has been subpar.
We did not get one of those babies that sleeps more when they are sick. Nope, instead we got the baby that is very upset at being sick and wants to make sure we are all aware that he is sick, tired and unhappy. Sickness and sleeplessness all rolled up together makes for one cranky little boy. At that moment when I was sitting hunched over next to the crib mentally lamenting the fact that I had so much work to do and how can I get it all done using only one hand, I was failing to realize the bigger and more important picture. Because also in that moment when I was sitting next to the crib trying to work, was my little love who just needed his mamma. My sweet boy could only sleep if I held his hand. Even slowly moving my hand just one moment to the keyboard would wake him instantly and he would begin crying “da mamma.” “Whenever a child, or a baby holds our hand or our finger, we get the highest of joys, like it is one of the most delightful feelings in the world. Imagine what God feels when we hold His hand. Imagine His joy." ~Unknown I saw that quote on Instagram later that day and realized just how powerful it is to be a parent. I was also so glad that I was able to be with my love when he needed me most. Being a mother isn't always what I'd imagine it would be, but it is always exactly what I need to be. There will be a day when I will look back at that moment of me sitting on the ground near my son and I will wish it back. I will wish back the times when my sweet love needed his mamma. I will look fondly back on these memories that we have created. And for the rest of my life, I will remember to thank God for holding my hand when I need it most. Praise God, our little love is feeling much better now and after a reboot of our sleep training, he is back to sleeping both for his naps and at night. I will now just get my hand-holding in while he is awake and happy. As always, thank you for reading. God bless you and may the Blessed Virgin Mary be with you always! |
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