It’s that time, Christmas time is near!
By Paul Haddican Sr.
Just like the line from the opening song of the movie, Christmas Vacation, “It’s that time, Christmas time is near. Hip Hip Hooray for Christmas Vacation.” After Thanksgiving, I get excited for the time I take off from work to spend with my family. With all of the commercials for the new toys and gifts that you should go out and buy, it’s sometimes distracting to remember that we are in Advent and are preparing for the coming of Jesus.
As parents of four kids, my wife and I were the center of our kids’ universe when they were young. We taught them about God and Jesus and they listened and got involved with the different seasons of the Church. During Advent, our kids would push us to hang a Jesse Tree ornament, light the Advent candles and start a novena for us to remember the reason for the season. It was easy when our kids were younger, because they wanted to do stuff -- like bake a birthday cake for Jesus.
Fast forward years later, and we are now the parents of a college student, two kids in high school and our youngest in sixth grade. My wife and I are no longer at the center of their universe. We compete against so many things to just spend time with them. They are now away from home at times, have many friends, belong to multiple clubs and seem to be very busy all the time.
One thing that turns out to be a blessing for my wife and me is that when the Holidays come around, our kids remember the things we did when they were young. Sure they are too old and don’t fight over the lighter anymore to be the one to light the advent candles. (The twelve year old makes sure that he is the only one who knows where the lighter is located.) Gone are the days of sitting around saying prayers together, and the ornaments don’t make it on the Jesse Tree anymore. But our kids have become very active in our Church. They take an active role in service for the needy in our parish. They help collect can goods and food items for Thanksgiving Baskets and toys for the Christmas Toy Drive.
It’s a lot of hard work, but the kids seem to get in the spirit of the season and it becomes very contagious. It really gets me excited and to start thinking about Advent. What we should be doing and how we should be preparing for Jesus to come into our hearts.
So I encourage all Catholic parents of young kids to teach your faith to your children. One of the best times is the start of Advent. Teach them all about the Advent Wreath, the Advent Calendar, and the Jesse Tree and teach them the Christmas Novena.
It is my hope that my kids will pass these family traditions on to their kids and experience the same sense of excitement that I do watching them during the Advent Season.
As parents of four kids, my wife and I were the center of our kids’ universe when they were young. We taught them about God and Jesus and they listened and got involved with the different seasons of the Church. During Advent, our kids would push us to hang a Jesse Tree ornament, light the Advent candles and start a novena for us to remember the reason for the season. It was easy when our kids were younger, because they wanted to do stuff -- like bake a birthday cake for Jesus.
Fast forward years later, and we are now the parents of a college student, two kids in high school and our youngest in sixth grade. My wife and I are no longer at the center of their universe. We compete against so many things to just spend time with them. They are now away from home at times, have many friends, belong to multiple clubs and seem to be very busy all the time.
One thing that turns out to be a blessing for my wife and me is that when the Holidays come around, our kids remember the things we did when they were young. Sure they are too old and don’t fight over the lighter anymore to be the one to light the advent candles. (The twelve year old makes sure that he is the only one who knows where the lighter is located.) Gone are the days of sitting around saying prayers together, and the ornaments don’t make it on the Jesse Tree anymore. But our kids have become very active in our Church. They take an active role in service for the needy in our parish. They help collect can goods and food items for Thanksgiving Baskets and toys for the Christmas Toy Drive.
It’s a lot of hard work, but the kids seem to get in the spirit of the season and it becomes very contagious. It really gets me excited and to start thinking about Advent. What we should be doing and how we should be preparing for Jesus to come into our hearts.
So I encourage all Catholic parents of young kids to teach your faith to your children. One of the best times is the start of Advent. Teach them all about the Advent Wreath, the Advent Calendar, and the Jesse Tree and teach them the Christmas Novena.
It is my hope that my kids will pass these family traditions on to their kids and experience the same sense of excitement that I do watching them during the Advent Season.