By Regina Walton
Many years ago, I was teaching a Godly Play class of four-year-olds in Advent. Conversation turned, as it so often does among children in December, to Christmas presents. One little boy surprised us all, by sharing that in his house, Advent was spent de-cluttering and giving away toys and things that were no longer used. He also shared emphatically that Advent was a holy time for getting ready for Christmas, and not the time for Christmas shopping. He said that his mom did all her Christmas shopping before the start of Advent. I thought, “This mom has got it figured out.” It was clear that this was a household where Advent was taken seriously!
Years later when I had my own kids, I adopted this wise woman’s practice. In my house, Halloween is the deadline for my family members to submit their Christmas lists to me, the primary gift shopper. I do my flurry of purchasing in November, and conclude my gift-buying, as much as possible, before the first Sunday of Advent.
During the years I served in parish ministry, December was incredibly busy with Lessons and Carols, the Christmas Pageant, the Christmas Cookie exchange, and on and on. I genuinely enjoy buying or making thoughtful gifts for loved ones. Christmas-shopping before Advent allowed me to enjoy this process, and give it the time it deserved. Advent is also my favorite liturgical season, and it is also the shortest. November gift-buying means that I have a much better chance at entering prayerfully into this holy season.
Now the Halloween gift-list deadline is routine. I have two giant red-and-green plaid tote bags in my closet, where I place gifts I’ve bought for folks during the year (so I remember I’ve bought them!). This bag gets filled in November with items from everyone’s lists. In Advent, I’m free to lean into prayerful observance of the season, and away from the more commercial aspects of the holidays. I have less stress about stuff and more energy to focus on prayer and meaningful family and church celebrations.
Maybe the Halloween Christmas list deadline will work for you, or maybe not. What practice would help you enter into Advent more intentionally and prayerfully this year, that is doable for you? We have a choice about whether or not we accept the cultural and societal scripts we are handed. I give thanks for that four-year-old in Godly Play, who reminded me of the importance of keeping Advent well.
The Rev. Dr. Regina Walton is Editor and Content Developer for Discipleship Initiatives at Forward Movement, and a member of the Cedar team.