Weekly Advent Reflection, Sunday, December 23, 2018
By: Caroline Moomaw
I am both a perfectionist and a procrastinator. Christmas has always intimidated me. My perfectionist side wants to find the perfect gift, make the perfect holiday dish, and have the perfect holiday card. My procrastinating side waits until Christmas Eve for the gifts, the day before the holiday party for the delicious and unique holiday dish and paying for express shipping so people get the cards before Christmas is over. I am my own WORST enemy.
Three years ago, I was on the verge of my due date with baby number one. Being pregnant in Advent was a bit of a priority check. It forced me to not procrastinate AND to focus on the real meaning of Christmas. The things previously mentioned are nice, however, they are not what the season is about.
Upon reflection, most of the things I had focused on before seemed so trivial. Looking at it again, I realized that many of the people that I cherish the most are born in and around the season of Advent. I realized that Advent is a quiet time to show the people you love how much they mean to you.
I find myself here again, three years later. I am eagerly awaiting the arrival of not one baby, but two. I sympathize with poor Mary. I can’t imagine riding a donkey many miles while being 9 months pregnant. I am thankful that I do not have to, especially with twins.
I think that I was meant to have children around this time. I needed to be forced to slow down, cherish the calm, and focus on the important things. I’m thankful for all the blessings in my life; my amazing husband, my sweet little boy, my loving and supportive family, my warm home, my wonderful job, my church and my faith, just to mention a few.
Advent will forever bring so much warmth to my heart. It is the time that I was forced to patiently wait for the greatest blessings of my life, my children. It is a time for me to reflect on my life, the people in it, and also the changes that are coming. The wonderful, wonderful changes.