An Advent Wreath makes waiting more meaningful.

Moira Cullen | Contributor

I relish hearing our children’s shouts of delight as they open their gifts on Christmas morning, and yet I know they will eventually tire of these gifts. This knowledge compels me to give more than just material gifts on Christmas; I want to give lasting “gifts,” those that don’t fade or rust with time. One of those lasting gifts is patience. In a world that celebrates instant gratification, we are trying to teach our children (and ourselves) the value of waiting for things that are precious. Celebrating Advent provides us many ways to practice patience, and it is this patience which is a doorway for some of the rarest joys of Christmas.

Traditionally, Advent has been celebrated for the four weeks preceding Christmas. Advent, from the Latin Adventus, means “coming,” and it reminds us that we are waiting for the coming of Christmas. This waiting provides a sense of wonder and expectation that makes the celebration of Christmas that much sweeter. The “waiting” of Advent should not be confused with "waiting around." Advent is not a passive season of inactivity but rather a time filled with meaning and preparation.

Advent is filled with beautiful symbols of waiting, like the Advent Wreath or Crèche with empty manger. It is also a time to make little sacrifices to prepare for the greater joys of Christmas. These sacrifices don’t have to be grandiose in nature. It is amazing how difficult it can be to simply skip a dessert, a favorite Christmas movie or shopping for oneself during Advent. Sometimes sacrifice means making peace with a relative, giving of your income to charity or of your time to a soup kitchen. Sacrifice takes many different forms, but if one is really sacrificing, they need patience to gracefully endure and truly benefit from it.

It is in the struggle that true patience is practiced. It is in the struggle that we will learn things about ourselves that we may never have known. We may learn that we are a bit too materialistic, a bit too selfish, or a bit too impatient! This knowledge in itself is a gift because it provides an opportunity for change. May this last week of Advent be full of patient waiting and may you find the lasting joys that this season has to offer.

Moira Cullen co-owns with husband John Cullen, Celtic Gardens, a design-build garden firm in Dexter. She is a homeschooling mother of four energetic children. To learn more visit: www.celticgardenimports.com.