Advent is a season of reflection and longing for the second coming or arrival of Jesus Christ. We celebrate what Jesus has done for us through His life, death, and resurrection. We also set aside time to cultivate our longing for Him to return and make all things right.
As a church family, we want to be proactive in fighting against the common distractions. The Christmas season is an opportunity to cultivate a deep longing in our hearts for Christ’s return. One family, the Busskohl’s, have found that being aware and then guarding their time during Advent has created a special month of peace, hope, joy, and love in their home but most importantly, in their hearts. They have found it’s getting into a rhythm and being consistent.
“It can be so hurry, hurry, hurry,” Chelsea described the temptation. “The world wants to speed you up. Advent is precious. It has allowed us to slow down. We wanted to prioritize that for our family. We have re-centered ourselves and our children on a story that is so much bigger than the world around us. With everything we can be exposed to during this season we wanted our girls to know the true heart of Advent.”
Slowing down and directing their family’s attention and time toward simple tools has helped. One tool has been a nativity scene with daily scripture that creates conversations about certain characters in the Bible.
“Todays was on the census,” Chelsea shared. “Within the nativity scene there are characters/objects we get to learn about — We’ve read about Joseph, Zachariah, Elizabeth, and Mary and each of their roles in Jesus’ birth story. We get to open the Storybook Bible together and read God’s Word. We also listen to the Tiny Theologians Advent podcast. We have been memorizing the gospel and how to share it. We’ve seen the fruit in the words the girls repeat and the questions they ask.”
Not every day is as easy or fluid. Some days come with challenges. But, knowing the fruit that comes from staying consistent has been all the encouragement needed.
“Last night our 2-year-old was up a lot,” Chelsea described. “There are moments of tiredness and a softer eagerness to talk about Jesus but you choose the joyful posture and knowing the importance of it, within minutes of starting and listening, the fruit from being in God’s word starts to flourish. It is so life-giving. We’ve also found that even singing a worship song together or reading one verse over each other has made a difference. We ask our kids what they’re grateful for or point out a characteristic of God. And the days that maybe we don’t get to speaking God’s truth over them ... We apologize and ask for forgiveness. My encouragement to you is to keep showing up each day and pointing your kids to Jesus. We want to exemplify Jesus in all we can, especially in the hard days. Even in the small things ... It doesn’t have to be this massive list. It can feel like I’m not doing enough, and my kids will not know the Lord. There are ways and every day is new.”
Parenting can seem like an uphill battle, especially in a season like Advent. It can feel like it’s never enough or it’s never done well. But, in that, there’s another opportunity to go before the Lord and hand it all over to him again.
“Even when it’s difficult, I’m learning to place it in God’s hands.” Chelsea concluded with hope and love. “It takes recognition that not everything has to be perfect. We continue to surrender and trust Him and truly trust, deep rooted trust, that He will provide. To all the parents I see striving faithfully, I encourage you to read the Bible with your kids and show them how God has revealed Himself in the lives of others. I’m reminded of this in BSF (Bible Study Fellowship). We are going through the Old Testament and over and over God has worked through his people ... Daniel, the prophets and all the kings. It makes me recommit and say to the Lord that I will follow you and surrender my life to you. You are a good Father! Step out in faith. He’s holding you every step of the way.”
Chelsea is grateful for Jesus and the gift of pointing her kids to Emmanuel this Advent. God has put on her heart contentment and joyfulness in each moment. Especially in the mundane. She is also reminded of what God has saved her from. Chelsea shared this:
“God has saved me from the need to control—especially in motherhood. There is now a lightness over this journey of letting go of control, of wanting and needing it. I can give that to Him and trust Him. In parenting, the anger and frustrations that come with hard days—submitting those to Him—has been life-changing. I’m not here for my own gain, but to serve the Lord, and I do that by serving my children. I’m God’s ambassador. This season is about continually surrendering my life to Him, always.”
In this season of Advent, may we pause and reflect on the life and promise of Jesus Christ and give thanks for all the good gifts He has given us ... salvation and a church family that walks together and alongside one another. You are not alone. Emmanuel.
Please join us and invite your neighbor, friend, coworker and family to Christmas Eve gatherings at both locations. 1, 3, and 5 PM.
Wow!! What a beautiful testimony! Your family is awesome to be sharing God’s word with us!! Thank you very much!