Starting the advent season, and lighting the first candle tonight (instead of last night, because I, ahem, didn't actually have a wreath until today), I watched my two-year-old gaze around the table in wonder and puzzlement as we lit the candle and sang 'O Come, O Come Emmanuel'. He kept looking from the flame, to me, to his dad, to his brother and back to the candle. He is normally full of noise and wiggles, but tonight he sat still in wonder at our liturgy. Next year, he may recognize the candles, he may know some of the songs, and he might sing along. Only 18 months older, and now Ethan sits and answers our questions -- "What does Emmanuel mean?" "Who is the light of the world?". Matthew sits and stares.
I love the look of discovery and awe during Christmas that little ones can't fake. It makes me think of how confused everyone must have been when God told them that Jesus was going to be born, that His son was a baby on the earth, or when He told Mary she was going to be His mother. Can you think of getting news like that? I imagine they might have looked, even for just a second, a bit like my toddler sitting at the dinner table wondering what in the world we are doing.
I love the look of discovery and awe during Christmas that little ones can't fake. It makes me think of how confused everyone must have been when God told them that Jesus was going to be born, that His son was a baby on the earth, or when He told Mary she was going to be His mother. Can you think of getting news like that? I imagine they might have looked, even for just a second, a bit like my toddler sitting at the dinner table wondering what in the world we are doing.
Tonight, we light the first candle of advent, the prophesy candle. We light a candle to remind us that Jesus is the Light of the world. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
