One of the many things I love about Michael is how thoughtful he is. He set up an email address for the boys when we were pregnant with each of them and has been sending them notes along the way. So sweet. I had to share this one he emailed to them last night because it was really helpful to me, too!
Advent 2010
Hey, guys. Your mom is doing a fabulous job teaching some basics this school year with you. One thing we have talked about is how to celebrate Advent. I thought I'd record here a very simple approach that we've tried to do - mostly in casual conversation around the table, but with a few focused teaching times, too. We're trying to do the things that'd be most helpful for your age and stage.
Last week: Hope - "Looking forward to good things God has promised - (to be with us and so much more)" (Romans 8:18-25, 2 Corinthians 7:1).
This week: Peace - "Knowing everything is okay because God is with us." (Philippians 4:4-7; Mark 4:35-41 - the story of Jesus calming the storm in The Jesus Storybook Bible is currently Sam's favorite).
Next week: Joy - "How excited and happy we are because God is with us." (Luke 1&2; 1 John 3:1-3; Romans 5:1-10)
Fourth week: Love - "Because God Who has loved us so deeply is with us, we can love other people, too." (1 John 4; 2 Corinthians 5:14)
One of the main things about Advent, though, is the waiting and expecting Jesus to come. Given the age and stage we're in, we haven't tried much to explain these distinctions. But sometimes in conversation we have opportunities to point out either dynamic - "God is already with us" or "we are waiting on God." Anyway, for each of the elements above, there is both a dynamic of God being (already) with us and a dynamic of we are waiting on God for some other/fuller presence. We should both celebrate and anticipate His presence. But in both dynamics, it's His presence that is the defining focus.
We love you guys so much! We are so thankful to be your parents!
Michael
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