An Inadvertent Tradition: The Advent Tree

Some traditions are well thought out, while others (and probably most!) really just occur inadvertently. So it has been with our Advent Tree...

It turned out that at each new home we've had since we got married, we needed a different Christmas tree! We started out with a 4 foot "apartment" tree with the few ornaments left over primarily from our single days. When we moved into the house we built in Houston, we needed a 9 foot tree to even come slightly close to filling the 12 foot ceiling we had in the foyer and the 10 foot ceiling in the family room. Then God brought us to Ohio, and he nestled us in this quaint little cottage-like house with a max ceiling of 8 feet... another tree was needed! Now, we have three trees, but we're not really sure where the 9 foot one is. Mom, do you have that one??

This leads me to the real reason of this post.... the Advent Tree! We always set up our main tree in our living room on the main floor. That's the one with the real ornaments, the special snowflakes that we collect each year, and the one where the presents camp out before Christmas Day! But the little 4 foot "apartment" tree has made its way into the basement (which is our family room) and into a new family tradition. It started a couple of years ago when I wanted to do an advent wreath. The idea is great --- light a candle on each of the four Sundays before Christmas during devotions --- but for a 2-year old, a once a week tradition probably wouldn't make a real significant impression. So, we elaborated on the idea of an advent calendar by creating the advent tree.

Everything on the tree is entirely homemade... even the star on top! The ornaments are containers of some sort which hold the Scripture reading for the day and a little treat... chocolate, of course!! Each night before bedtime, we sit down in front of the little tree --- gee, too bad there's no fireplace to go with it --- read the scripture, talk a little bit about it, pray, and eat the treats! For toddlers and preschoolers, the repetitive nature of doing this every single day seems to sink in more than the once-a-week advent wreath.

This year our verses are focusing on what Scripture says about Jesus Christ ... how he is the "image of the invisible God", "the radiance of God's glory", "the author and perfector of our faith"... you get the point... and it also includes the passages in Luke and Matthew that tell the story of his birth. The containers are homemade "boxes" that were made out of a template found on the internet, and tucked inside are chocolate peppermint patties and caramels.

As a mom, I have a love-hate relationship with this tree. I love the time we spend reading through the scripture and enjoying each other's company and the treats, but I hate putting it together. It takes work and lots of time (as do most traditions) to print out the little boxes, cut them out, research the scriptures, add the numbers, stuff them with treats, etc, but the rewards of speding 25 days learning about Jesus and sharing that with the kids is more than worth it!

Living away from our families is always tough during the holidays, but God has shown me that in moving me away, He has given me the chance to rewrite tradition. Some of the things we do are carry-overs from what Brian and I did with our own families as kids, but a lot of what we do is brand new... fresh vision that coincides with our personal desires to See and Savor Jesus Christ alone during a season that belongs to Him and is for His glory!

So later today --- December 1, 2007 --- we will open the first box and see what we can learn about the Saviour we want to savor...

Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. For surely it is not angels that he helps, but he helps the offspring of Abraham. Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

~ Hebrews 2:14-18