Muses

Musing on Letting Go. Advent Wreaths.

As much as Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday, Advent is my favorite part of Christmas.

Once again from the file of “We never did this as a child so my family is GOING to do this,” lighting the  candles on an Advent wreath was hit-or-miss growing up.

One year when I was six or seven in Sunday School, we made Advent wreaths.

They consisted of a six-inch square block of styrofoam, a few plastic holly springs and five birthday candles.

I LOVED IT.

Holding it betwixt my hands in church, I stared at all its little promise.

We never made them again. No styrofoam, no birthday candles, no holly. Year after year, I hoped we would make that silly little thing.

It never dawned on me that we could make our own.

Till I became an adult. We have one every year and have a devotion most every night. It’s probably the most our family sits down face-to-face — with nothing but a lighted candle and lighted Christmas tree between us — and talks.

I LOVE IT —->>> almost as much as that little block of styrofoam with teensy birthday candles.

*     *     *

This year our church held an Advent wreath making workshop.

This was wonderful…

a. Because more people in the world would now have the magic of an Advent wreath to share with their family.

b. Because I wouldn’t have to worry about making one.

but…

This caused me angst. I would have to let go of all my years of making up for no teeny wreaths with birthday candles. I vowed to stand back and let my children construct their own.

Together. (This was immediately unpopular, but I stood firm.)

First, there was Family Night Supper.

Nothing says church like a lot of food.

 

Then the wreath crafting began in earnest.

 

Miss Kathleen was helping her daughter.

 

Lots of adults helped.

That wasn’t the point. I needed to let go and let my children create something imperfect and let it become my perfect Advent wreath.

I let them handle the glue gun all by themselves.

 

They all worked away.

 

One time a child by me (not my own) really needed help. I stopped and thought…this is not my child, I am not trying to make this perfect.

So I helped her.  🙂

Kathryn Cardwell was responsible for all this Advent goodness. It's nice that organized people like her can do this for clueless-moms-working-through-Advent-wreath-issues.

 

Our wreath.

 

Tomorrow is the first Sunday in Advent.

We will light the first candle

from our perfect wreath.

Do you have Advent issues?

Issues or not…may the joy of a candle and conversation with loved ones make your holiday bright.

           

           

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