Advent is a little different for me this year.
There are no children rushing to the calendar for a piece of candy.
No one to help me decorate the house.
And no one with which to read our advent family devotional.
I have three grown and busy children,
and although two of them are still living at home,
they are fighting hard enough to balance their crazy, upside-down lives
without pressure from me to deck the halls.
It is two days after Thanksgiving,
By this time, I usually have the tree up and decorations abounding,
but this year I’m having a difficult time being motivated.
I’m finding out what traditions will remain with the two of us,
my husband and I,
when we are truly empty-nesters.
And depression tries to sneak in…
until…I hear eighteen year old son whistling Silent Night
in the bathroom while shaving before beginning his day.
It’s then that I remember what I’d forgotten.
Advent isn’t about preparing an aesthetic atmosphere for myself and others,
it’s about preparing an atmosphere in my own heart for the coming King…
A King is on His way to my home.
What shall I do? How shall I prepare?
What shall we eat? What will I wear?
It’s because He is coming, not because company is coming.
And it is in this moment of my Journey Toward Epiphany that I search for Him,
because wise men (and women) still seek Him.
Linking with dear Ann:
journeytoepiphany.wordpress.com 
This year is different for us, too – not so much the empty nest – just a season of change. You are right – it is all about this wonderful Gift God gave us through His son!
I hope that doesn’t mean that all of my Christmas “works” of the past were wood, hay and stubble!! God’s grace is sufficient, thank God for His refining fire.
Yes. Lovely epiphany! Many blessings!
Thank you, and many blessings as you journey to find the Christ child in the Old Testament this Advent.
Such a perfectly timed reminder. Thank you.
You are welcome. Expect His coming!
oh yes…those seasons of transitions…how we move and change as our families move and change…flexibility…I am finding this is essential…
Blessings as you as we all journey to seek Him…
Transitions are hard, but once you are through them there is always blessing. The journey is a gift!
I have discovered Advent, too. I’m using it as my focus to Christmas and to rearranging my life by making Jesus the center. Thanks for posting. I feel in wonderful company.
We are in good company!! PS I loved your post about having your husband home all day…
You’ve hit on something close to home. Thanks for sharing your epiphany, and lighting the candle for me.
May the candle burn brightly all Christmas season.
beautiful words of the season of Advent…preparing our hearts for His coming…we have been reading through the Bible this year, and will finish with Revelation just as we celebrate Christmas…so fitting celebrate His first coming while looking ahead to His second…
Yes! How lovely. As Advent has us looking for His coming as a baby, we should always be looking toward the skies for his coming!
Yes. Love it!
…and I love your Advent prayer!
preparing the atmosphere of my heart…nice…thank you for bringing us back to the real point…hope this is a great season for you…
It takes time to slow down enough to prepare a heart.
Empty nest here, too, and struggling with “how much” to do. Thanks for the reminder that it’s not about the decorations I put throughout my home, but completely about what my heart looks like. I really needed this today.
It’s funny how it was through my son’s holiday cheer that my own heart was warmed. I’m glad this helped you!
LOVE!
I love your blog! Your title is so great. I’m glad we’ve found each other, let’s keep in touch.
My mother was always the frenetic decorator, insisting on having the home properly “dressed” for the holiday. With just my wife and I, I’ve found that the desire to fool with all the physical trappings has plummeted. Yet, somehow, it’s a bit more special these days, with both my wife and I home leading into Christmas. Same sense of family, friends, and faith – Lite. (All the tradition, 1/3 the trimmings. 😀 )
Dear John,
You always sum up my poetic mumbo jumbo in concise practical writing. All the tradition 1/3 the trimmings! Perfect. I don’t know if you’ve ever gone to Ann Voskamp’s blog, but she has some lovely thoughts about Advent there. She is so famous, she doesn’t have her comments turned on, so you don’t have to worry about another time consuming blog to read!! You are a faithful friend, and I appreciate you beyond words.
oh, i like how real this is. it makes me ache and smile. i love that your 18-year-old whistles. it shows a peaceful, happy heart… which reflects well on you, my friend 🙂
He does have a peaceful, happy heart…and it’s so much because he has given his heart to the One who gives peace and joy. What more could a mother ask?
Your experience is real…this authentic writing is a great balance to the media messages that are hitting us hard these days.
Preparing room in our hearts! Nice one, Kimmie!
Joy to the world! Joy to you!
Joy to you my blogging brother!
i too have three grown up kids…17, 19 and 21..all three of them still at home but busy as well.. when i read about your 18 year old whistling silent night while shaving..brought tears to my eyes..
It brings tears to my eyes to see Him keep Jesus as the center of his life. I am overwhelmed with gratitude.
Nice post. I too, find little motivation this year. … each year. Wrong expectations I expect. A work in progress. Always, eh? 🙂
I am definitely a piece of work…. 😉
I love this: “it’s about preparing an atmosphere in my own heart for the coming King…” Receiving Him as King always starts in our hearts–such a good reminder!
It’s so good to see you here. Thanks for stopping by. I’m working on preparing my heart every day…
Thank you! I needed this. Mine are in college and one will not be home for Christmas. It is not the same. Yet, Christmas is about Christ more than family.
That is true. Christmas may be more enjoyable with family, but it isn’t about family. It is about me seeking Him…
KD – I love this sentiment. Advent is not about preparing the house; it’s about preparing our hearts. I think that’s how we come to this season year after year and find something new, when we see what the Lord is doing in our hearts.
Another participant of our Advent Writing Project wrote about a similar feeling of an empty house and what that meant for Advent. You can find his post here: http://thefaithfulskeptic.blogspot.com/2011/12/seem-so-different.html.
Thanks for being part of our High Calling Advent community. It was more special because you were part of it!
Charity, your words are so kind. I’m looking forward to reading the post you’ve suggested! Thanks for visiting!