3 Habits for Christian Parents During Advent: Staying Focused on the Sacred
Christmas is, at its heart, the celebration of the incarnation — the pivotal point in God’s redemptive plan for the world in which His own son took on human flesh. He is the one and only and all at once the Creator of all things, the Lamb of God, the Son of Man, the resurrected King. In the midst of the hustle and bustle of this season, it's crucial to let Him be our anchor. As we navigate the holiday chaos, incorporating sacred habits can help keep us focused on what is significant, what is lovely, and what is truly glorious. So, here are three habits to help you protect what is sacred during this season, in your heart and in your home.
Light a Candle During Family Meal Times.
Begin each family meal by lighting a candle, symbolizing the arrival of Jesus, the Light of the World. Use this time to reflect on the significance of light in Scripture and how Jesus pierces the darkness — even the darkness is as light to Him (Psalm 139:12). Invite conversation about how your family can be a light in a dark world, illuminating the love and grace of Jesus.
Sing a Song of Praise with Your Family Every Day.
Mary sang aloud the magnificat in response to being chosen to carry the Christ child. What an appropriate expression of everything she was feeling and experiencing! When we make it a habit to sing with one another to God, whether corporately at church or at home with our families, we experience joy and give glory to God at the same time. There’s a powerful and undeniable connection between music/singing and transcendent joy — saved people sing! Even neurobiologically, singing together with other people has been shown to foster a sense of connectedness, belonging, trust, and social bonding. As you make this a habit, choose a mix of different kinds of songs, discuss the lyrics with your children as needed, and repeat often. Whether you have the voice of an angel or you think you sound like screeching car tires, your soul was created to cry out to the Lord!
Read the Christmas Story in the Context of the Larger Biblical Narrative.
Christmas is a pivotal point in God's grand story, but it is also just that — one part of a much larger whole. When we read the Christmas story as part of God’s whole redemptive plan from creation onward, it’s much easier to see how it all fits together. Explore and discover how the incarnation was part of God’s rescue plan all along — to reverse the curse on creation and to save His beloved people forever.
By intentionally weaving sacred habits into our Advent season, we can nurture a rich, Christ-centered environment for our families filled with abundant joy, peace, and gratitude. These are simply ideas, so we encourage you to adapt these to fit your family rhythms and even come up with your own habits that serve the same purpose! And as always, start small. Pick one habit to try out in your home this year and do not feel pressure to do them all — you’ll likely end up frustrated and overwhelmed. In choosing to be intentional with our habits this time of year, we are instilling in our children a profound understanding of the fulfillment of God’s promise in Genesis 3:15 and the eternal impact of the incarnation. May these habits become a treasured way that we continually point our children, and ourselves, to the Lamb of God, the newborn King, the Light of the world who came and died and will come again in glory.
Author: Kalie Moore, MA, LCMHC. Clinical Therapist. Co-Founder of Dwell Ministry, PC.
References:
The Neurochemistry and Social Flow of Singing: Bonding and Oxytocin. Keeler, Roth, Neuser, Spitsbergen, Waters, and Vianney, 2015.
