Skip to Main Content
Women of the ELCA
  • Donate
  • Shop
  • Tools For Leaders
  • Publications
  • Daily Grace
  • Contact
  • Ministry & Action
    • Discipleship
    • Justice
      • Human Trafficking
      • Racial Justice Advocacy
      • Racial Justice Advocacy Network resources
      • Domestic Violence
    • Membership
    • Stewardship
      • Thankofferings
      • Faithful Friends
      • Katie’s Fund
      • Gift Planning
    • Special Initiatives
      • Raising Up Healthy Women & Girls
      • Dear Friend in Christ
    • Scholarships
      • Lutheran laywomen
      • Lutheran Ordained Ministry
  • Resources
  • Blog
  • Events
  • About
    • History
    • Executive Board
    • Staff
    • Get Involved
  • Donate
  • Shop
  • Tools For Leaders
  • Publications
  • Daily Grace
  • Contact
« Back to All Daily Grace

Real Advent

12.8.2017
|
Daily Grace

Just once I wanted to have a quiet, wonder-filled Advent—an oasis from the blitz of baking, shopping, mailing and entertaining that Christmas can become.

I bought a lovely Advent wreath and candles, selected a devotional book for our family, and had everything arranged the moment the Thanksgiving dinner was cleared. I had hoped these nightly Advent celebrations would be peaceful respites of quality family time. Think again.

My dream of a family singing by soft candlelight was smashed by my real-life children, squabbling over who got to light the candles. The next night, the issue was who would pick the hymn, followed by shouting over who would blow out the candles.

Advent does not exclude naughty children who fight over candles or frazzled parents who sometimes think their families should be like TV families. Advent is for real people, all people.

This message was adapted from “A Real Christmas” by Karen Melang that appeared in the December 1991 issue of Lutheran Woman Today (now Gather) magazine.

Do you enjoy these free Daily Grace messages? If so, donate now to further the ministry.

Share

Sign up for Daily Grace

Daily Grace is an on-the-go companion for your journey, offering a faith reflection every day. Encounter God’s extravagant, boundless and often surprising grace by signing up for a daily email message.

Back to home

8765 W. Higgins Rd.

Chicago IL 60631

800-638-3522

[email protected]

Stay In Touch

Sign up for the WELCA Newsletter

Explore WELCA
  • Ministry & Action
  • Daily Grace
  • Resource Library
  • Events
  • Blog
  • News
  • About WELCA
  • Tools For Leaders
  • Publications
  • Donate
  • Shop
  • Photos
Explore Publications

Bold Cafe

A Lutheran perspective for women of Christian faith or any woman who is interested in how faith relates to the issues facing women today.

Gather Magazine

A mix of articles, theological reflections, devotions and stories of comfort and challenge that help readers grow in faith.

Cafe Podcast

Subscribe to our podcast:

Click to subscribe

© Copyright 2023 Women of the ELCA. All Rights Reserved.
  • Privacy Policy
  • Sitemap
  • Contact
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube
© Copyright 2023 Women of the ELCA. All Rights Reserved.