By Melissa McWilliams, AGSS Program Manager
Christmas!
A time of year filled with such traditions as singing favorite holiday songs, decorating the family Christmas tree, visiting Santa Claus and his reindeer. Or, of dropping change in red buckets, riding around town viewing Christmas lights, and making Christmas cookies & treats. For those of the Christian faith, along with Christmas comes the celebration of Advent.
As a child growing up in a small traditional Methodist church, I remember each Christmas season started with the celebration of Advent. On each of the 4 Sundays leading up to Christmas, we took time out of our church service to read a small reflection and then, using the acolyte candle lighter left under the skirt of the table, light the candle corresponding with that Sunday’s theme: Hope, Peace, Joy, or Love.
The key elements of Advent are remembrance and anticipation. In the same way, this must be what our children in foster care must feel. Remembering their birth families yet anticipating that there will be another family for them someday. And when they do find these families, that hope, peace, joy, and love will follow.
“The celebration of Advent is possible only to those who are troubled in soul, who know themselves to be poor and imperfect, and who look forward to something greater to come.”
~ Dietrich Bonhoeffer
In this Christmas season, may we be especially mindful of these precious children waiting in anticipation of the end of their Advent season. May we pray specifically for each of them that they someday will know the hope, peace, joy, and love that can come from being a part of a healthy and unconditionally loving family and, until then, that God’s presence may comfort them. And may we always listen to the prompts of our own hearts and take the action needed to make this happen.
“A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn
Fall on your knees; O hear the Angel voices!
O night divine, O night when Christ was born
O night, O Holy night, O night divine!”
~ Lyrics from the hymn, O Holy Night
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Lifeline Youth & Family Services helps individuals and families rediscover solutions that will allow them to reclaim control, rebuild relationships, and restore hope.