I’ll never forget the 2014 Winter Olympic Games.
That’s when I learned to embroider.
While my husband cheered on the bobsledders and skiers beside me, I toiled over the 24 hand-stitched, felt ornaments that would hang on our Advent calendar that Christmas. Never mind that I had never embroidered a single thing in my life or that December was still ten months away, Advent that year would be something special.
As a mom to three small children, I was feeling the pressure. I needed to impress. I needed my kids to see that our Savior was better than Santa, that gratitude trumped gifts, that reverence ruled over revelry. And I knew just how to do it.
An Advent calendar.
Hand-crafted by their loving mother, packed with theology, and mercilessly intricate, my calendar was built to amaze. No doubt, the life-change would be immediate.
My kids would never fight again. They’d fall in love with their Savior. They’d praise their mother, say thank you for every single gift they opened (without prompting), and always remember the year of the calendar.
Christmas 2014: The Year of the Perfect Advent.
But it wasn’t. And they certainly didn’t.
Instead, the kids squabbled nightly over whose turn it was to “do” the calendar. Little fingers jerked and stretched the pockets I had painstakingly crafted. The ornaments quickly tinged with smudges of peanut butter, and retrieving missing pieces of my precious creation from someone’s mouth became an every day activity.
Still, despite the shaky start, I was certain that by that climactic moment on Christmas Eve when we hung the final ornament — Baby Jesus with His gently curved sleeping eyes and His tiny threaded tuft of hair — my children would sit in reverent silence and bask in the beauty of their Savior (and their Advent calendar.) It would be perfect.
But it wasn’t. And they certainly didn’t.
And I cried.
The calendar hadn’t worked. My kids were still little sinners. Our celebration was a flop. Advent wasn’t memorable, and it most certainly wasn’t perfect.
Christmas 2014: The Year of the (Im)perfect Advent.
And it’s a good thing too.
In my pursuit to convince my children to celebrate Jesus, I lost sight of something. Something that will make or break the Christmas season. I had forgotten that Jesus is enough.
There is nothing we need to add to this season, moms.
Jesus is enough.
Jesus alone draws our children to himself. Jesus alone deserves reverence. Jesus alone makes the holidays meaningful.
Jesus is enough.
Yes, Advent calendars bring daily attention to His coming. Parties and programs point us to rejoicing in Him. Devotions can lead us into holy conversations with our kids. But none of these will save our children, nor make us the best moms, nor make our plans go off without a hitch.
There’s only one thing our children need to celebrate Advent. There’s only one thing we need: Our God. Wrapped in baby-soft flesh. Conceived by the Holy Spirit. Perfection accomplished.
He is all we need this Advent.
Jesus has come.
And He is enough.
Rest. Enjoy. Celebrate.
(Embroidery skills not required.)
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Related: Celebrate the best love story of all time with your family! Unwrapping the Greatest Gift by Ann Voskamp expands her presentation of the timeless Advent tradition of the Jesse Tree, so families may understand and celebrate together God’s greatest gift to us — His Son, Jesus Christ.
Leave a Comment
Joanne Peterson says
Hannah,
Thank you for sharing this. Advent 2014 WAS memorable because it was the realization that Jesus is enough, and WILL be Who draws your children to Himself. Mine too. We just need to be available to listen to his quiet whisper of what to do to work in tandem with Him.
II had presented the wordless book, (the story of the Gospel using colors) and I thought it was a total flop. A few months later, I had a little boy come to receive Christ who said he thought about what I had said, and now he was ready to receive Jesus, he wasn’t ready before. Whatever we do in His Name has results we don’t expect.
Your littles will be impacted by whatever you do because Jesus is enough.
Blessings,
Joanne
Hannah Smith Hall says
Thank you, Joanne. What a sweet encouragement you are to me this morning. 🙂
Blessings to you too!
Lovelle says
Hannah,
This was so beautiful! Jesus is enough. So simple but yet at times, so hard to remember. Thank you for this beautiful reminder.
~ Lovelle from (in)courage
Hannah Smith Hall says
Thank you, Lovelle. (And what a lovely name you have!)
Lovelle says
Thank you 🙂
Heather Bock says
Hannah, I can so relate to this! I’m making those ornaments right now (last year I used paper ones) just a few days ahead of when we need to hang them. They argued over whose turn it was, too, and one of the just made ornaments already had to be repaired. But I hope if we do this each year (or something like this), it will sink in–the real point of Christmas. Like you said, He is enough, and it’s all about Him.
Love, Heather
Hannah Smith Hall says
But you’re making them, Heather! Good for you. I had to start in February because I knew they would never get done if I had ANY other distractions. You are making them in the midst of plenty of distractions. 🙂 Thanks for reading. You’re a dear. 🙂
Beth Williams says
Hannah,
Glad to hear that Advent 2014 was good. We don’t need to be and act perfect. We just need to tell littles about the Greatest gift–Baby Jesus! Once they get it they will be forever grateful!
Blessings 🙂
Hannah Smith Hall says
Absolutely, Beth. But I so am quick to forget. I’m praying that both I and my kids will be fully satisfied with Jesus this Christmas (and always!) Thanks for reading!
Chara says
Hannah,
I smiled, laughed, and felt relief as I read this post. Thank you for sharing it and encouraging us all to remember that in every season He is always enough.
Hannah Smith Hall says
Thank you, Chara. I’m so glad people can relate. There is nothing like knowing that you’re not alone. Blessings!
Rebekah Walters says
Thank you for your words. Such a timely reminder that Jesus is ALL we need this season. As I wrestle because I haven’t planned anything this year for our kiddos and we still don’t have a tree yet, I’m reminded this morning that it’s ok because we have Jesus and that’s all we need. Thank you.