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Advent book helps families prepare for Christmas
By Julie Filby
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Author: Sarah Reinhard Publisher: Liguori Publications, 2011 Price: $1.99 Purchase: Catholic retailers, or online at www.Liguori.org and www.Amazon.com
Cover: “Welcome Baby Jesus: Advent and Christmas Reflections for Families” by Sarah Reinhard |
In anticipation of Christmas-time, wreaths and Santa decorations adorn shopping centers (often before Halloween); advertisements for the hottest toys and electronics run constantly on TV; and calendars fill with commitments. It’s easy to see how spiritual preparation for Christmas gets lost in the holiday shuffle.
“Advent gets us ready for one of the great feasts in our Christian life: the celebration of God becoming man,” said Catholic author and blogger Sarah Reinhard. “Unfortunately Advent is getting shoved off to the side as the Christmas season gets redefined.”
To help busy families grow closer to Christ during Advent, which begins Sunday, Nov. 27; and experience Christmas in a more meaningful way, Reinhard wrote “Welcome Baby Jesus: Advent and Christmas Reflections for Families” (Liguori Publications, 2011).
In this 48-page booklet, Reinhard provides a Scripture quote, short reflection, and action to complete for each day of the four weeks of Advent. The devotions and simple activities target children from age 4 to 8.
“’Welcome Baby Jesus’ is designed to bring families together for at least for a few minutes every day,” she said. “In this small way, we can bring our Advent preparations to the forefront of our Christmas preparation.”
Setting aside time for spiritual preparation for Christmas can enhance associated holiday experiences like shopping, parties, concerts and travel.
“When we’re conscious of our Advent preparation, all of those extra things—concerts and parties and shopping—can become part of our preparation and add to our anticipation and excitement,” Reinhard said.
As a writer, wife and mother of three young children—6, 4 and almost 1—Reinhard understands families not wanting to add more to their plates.
“I don’t want one more thing on my plate—it’s full enough as it is, especially before Christmas,” she said. “On the other hand, if there’s room in my spiritual life for one small thing, I wonder if I might be able to do the juggling necessary to pull my family together for five or 10 minutes a day, and share a glimpse of Advent with them.”
Her goal is to do just that, using “Welcome Baby Jesus” with her family this season.
“My kids have never heard it or read it; it’s new to them,” she explained. “It will very much be ‘one more thing’ in our family life, but so will the gift-wrapping that’s very much part of what the actual Christmas season means to us.
“Maybe this is just the time to try something extra for God. … Do as much, or as little, as you can each day.”
The booklet continues with devotions through the octave of Christmas, Jan. 1, and the feast of the Epiphany.
“Christmas is more than one day, which is another reason to love it,” she said. “The season actually begins Dec. 25 and continues through Epiphany. … There are devotional activities to continue through that time, because just as it’s ‘all-too-easy’ to have Advent get lost, it’s even easier for the season after Dec. 25 to get lost.”
“Welcome Baby Jesus” can be purchased for $1.99 at local Catholic retailers, or online at www.Liguori.org and www. Amazon.com.
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