I stayed up late last night finishing the wrapping and packing of the last of the Advent gifts to be shipped to my granddaughters. This was the second installment; the first was shipped before Thanksgiving. Two big boxes! Lucky and loved girls!

This is a tradition which started years ago with a friend of mine. She gave me 25 Advent gifts; little items which she had acquired over the year. It was such a wonderful experience for me to open a gift of love each day that, for many years, I gave Advent gifts to my mother, father, mother-in-law, father-in-law and the friend who had started in all! That was a lot of work.

When Mollie and Summer were little, we didn’t have the opportunity to spend Christmas Day with them, so I started the Advent gift tradition with them. It was my way of keeping in “Christmas contact” with them. They immediately loved the practice; their parents used the gifts as behavior modification tools and they had a happy path to Christmas Day.

Both girls are genuinely expressive of their gratitude and appreciation, no matter how small the gift. They send me texts and photos as they open their gifts. I can see the joy on their faces. I don’t think that their joy is only because they are getting loot. They are joyful because the know that they are loved. I am joyful, as well.

I know that there is an argument that this is a contribution to the commercialization of this holy day, but there is more at work here than just the giving of gifts. These gifts created an anticipation for the great gift to come on Christmas morn. The first Advent gift each year is a little manger or creche to set the stage for this drama. These girls now have an extensive collection of manger scenes from needlepoint to ceramic or wood!
I have always loved the time before Christmas. I love the anticipation, the preparation, the hustle and bustle. I love the weather. I don’t like to lose track of the precipitating event-the birth of the Redeemer, Christ the Lord, but it happens in my humanness. And I am forgiven by the little child whose birth we celebrate in a few weeks.

Advent is a different kind of penitential season then Lent is; there is a real element of joy and expectation that shines through the darkness of winter. It is the season of hope and love. And watching over it, over us, is our God who loves you unconditionally! Happy Advent!

Terri