Advent Season is Here - 2014

Hello and happy Monday! Are you refreshed and relaxed after the Thanksgiving weekend? Is the family all back home and life resuming as normal? For us life is resuming, but with the added concern of Dan’s health. He can’t seem to kick whatever bug has taken over, so back to the hospital he goes starting tomorrow.

Photo from Dornondesigns on Pinterest.

Yesterday marked the first day of Advent. The season of preparing our hearts and minds for the birth of Christ. Last year we started the Advent season off with high hopes of prayer time, good deeds, and Bessette family time. Sadly our efforts were greatly derailed due to moving, job complications, and health complications. In some ways we were reduced to relying 100% on family and friend support, which reminded us of what this time of year really is about - having people around that love you. But I am not sure we did so good on the preparing of our hearts and minds…..so this year is different.

Each and everyday day I have plans to get my daily devotionals done - ideally in the morning, but no matter when at some point and then add in an Advent reading from Matthew Kelly’s Advent book. When I set out to make this effort I just wanted a reason to center and focus on my faith daily, in hopes of finding more strength to be the person I believe God is asking of me. It is so easy to let this time of year turn into doing it all - and as a result being stressed and grumpy. Instead I want to focus on doing my faith and letting the rest fall into place.

As I settled on this plan, I am feeling quite proud of myself for already knowing where I fall short and providing concrete actions to point me in the right direction even before I spin into a frenzy. However it feels that quickly this plan is clouded as we make hospital plans for Danny. We are re-working the schedule and to do’s to make it all happen, but really letting the “we will see how it goes” plan be the go to for the next few days. I see the chance to get derailed from my Advent devotional popping up before I have even started! Last night I finally sat down and did my readings and here on the very first page of my very first devotion it says: “Rather than trying to fix everything that comes to your attention, ask me to show you what is truly important.” OK, God - I get it, stop pressing….. Right there, right for me to see, right for me to follow, right for me to find some piece of mind - He tells me what to do about my fears of life with no schedule.

Not only does this go so very well with my Advent journey - have a little faith, be a little patient with my limited human abilities, lean on God - he knows the way - but it is the perfect message for this week. Right now I am at a crucial point for both of my new roles - work is about to ramp up big time before the start of the new year. This means I will not be at the hospital. In 10 years I have rarely not spent every night when Dan is at the hospital bringing him dinner and last time around I was even staying with him. This time we decided I need to stay focused on work, keeping the dog on schedule, mainly keeping life (Dan’s to do list too) going forward and Danny’s parents will be the hospital support.

In this moment where I need to be strong, need to have faith, need to not think about what could go wrong or how I can’t be there, and need to stay consistent in my everyday life - I NEED my faith. I need to know that my role is to take care of our life so my husband can recover, my blessings are the help of others, and that God’s plan is always greater than my own. What funny timing that his last long tune-up I was able to be there more than ever, since this time I have to let go and let God. Did God know? Did he plan this for me? Did he help us find such good strength during the last tune-up - we are more prepared this time when it can’t go the way we would prefer - together?

Have you thought about this special season? Have you taken time to hear what God is calling of you? Maybe yours is not so obvious….or maybe it is but just not easy to follow? Wherever this Advent Season finds you - take a moment, even just a few seconds a day, to reconnect on the reason for the season with me. We just never know what it can offer to life, big or small….even if it means just noticing those odd coincidences life presents us. God was preparing us for now, even when we did not know it - or cooperate….how much more can he do for us if we do cooperate?

Later this week I look forward to sharing our Thanksgiving 2014 Weekend Wrap-Up……but until then, happy Advent.