Third Sunday of Advent

We made it through the second week of advent. It was a pretty calm and enjoyable time with the grandkids, with a few decorations or candles added each day, an outing to shop for gifts, a trip to the holiday market, and making a piñata together.

This next week will be different: We have several family gatherings, and lots of projects to finish before the Christmas weekend. My focus will be on maintaining calm in the chaos!

Agenda:

1. Read a novena

2. Light a candle for Love

3. Daily love journal

4. Advent wreath ceremony

5. Plan activities for family fun

1. Read a novena:

Today is the second day of the Christmas Novena, a Catholic ritual of a prayer recited or sung during the nine days leading up to Christmas Day. I've been reading this Creation Novena from the Indian Catholic Matters site:

Day 2: A Prayer for the Animals 

Creator God, we give thanks for the animals and for the grand diversity of life you have created. We give thanks for the roles animals play in our lives, especially as our companions. We thank You for the wellbeing they bring us and for the glory they bring to your creation. As creation faces the wave of extinctions wrought by humankind, we ask You to strengthen us with prudence. In these days of preparation for Your Son, help us seek ways of living that allow all Your creatures to flourish. We ask this through Christ, our Lord. Amen.

2. Light a candle for Love:

For the first part of Soyal I am meditating and writing about each of my core values, and making plans for the coming year based on guidance from the Spirits. Today I am giving attention to Love: Practicing the habits of listening, generosity, patience, care, and kindness with my community, my family, and the earth.

Today I light a pink candle for love, and ask the Spirits to bring the rain of loving care down upon the whole world.

3. Daily love journal:

Periodically I take out a special small journal that I call my love journal. First I think about the people I will see today, and the conversations we may have. I make note of times when I might need to draw on equanimity.

Today I will answer these queries: 

Am I paying enough attention to each member of my family?
Am I including them in advent in ways that they enjoy?
How can I connect better to my friends this advent? 

What activities do I most want to do with friends and family, and which might I enjoy alone? 

What self-care do I most need in order to be calm and present? 

The excitement that grows at advent can cause high expectations, dissapointments, and frayed nerves. This is a good time to give extra attention to the importance of friends and family, and find ways to support and comfort each other.

4. Advent wreath ceremony:

Tonight (and every night this week) we will light three advent candles, and recite three prayers:

"We light the first candle for the earth, which sustains us. May we cherish and care for it."

"We light the second candle for all the people of the world. May we find unity and peace."

"We light the third candle for our family and the joy and love we bring each other."

5. Plan activities for family fun:

Christmas past

I remember many joyful moments with my family in advents past: Shopping together, writing cards, making cookies, putting up the tree, making gifts, Christmas parties, and watching Christmas shows. 

Now my kids are grown and have partners, so I need to coordinate activities with two other households.

And I have two grandsons to consider!

My plan is to look at each activity and project, decide whether I want to do it alone, or if I can reasonably negotiate help from my family, or if I want to turn it over for them to do on their own: I am happy to let go of some traditions and let my children take the lead.

Things to do this week to open to joy and love:

• Take care of myself so I can be calm and present for the spontaneous joy when it arises.
• Take the time to consider what others - both friends and family - want most this season. In other words, become less self-focused and more generous in all ways. 
• Be respectful, patient, and kind (no matter how stressed  I feel).
• Use my most creative thinking to find ways to celebrate together without stressing us all out.
• And communicate!