Many years ago on a drive to the Story Land amusement park, my three- and five-year-old boys screeched in the back seat with excitement. Every 30 seconds it seemed they would beg in anguish, “Are we there yet?” My husband’s patience grew thin, and his responses became an increasingly terse “No!”
In a moment that we all now laugh about, my husband threatened to stop the car and turn around if the boys asked one more time. The car filled with total silence. Thirty seconds later my three-year-old laid his little head reluctantly on the car window and gazed out, chanting in a whisper to himself, “Are we there yet? NO! Are we there yet? NO! Are we there yet? NO!” My husband and I doubled over in laughter.
This has become my Advent chant. The commercial build-up to Christmas makes it so hard to stay in the “We’re not there yet.” Our office parties and school gift exchanges all come before the celebration of Christmas itself—in my book they should all come afterwards. To stay in Advent, I imagine myself in the back seat of a car on a drive to my Story Land—the moment of sitting alone in that space of prayer with the angels, basking in the fullness of the Incarnation, the moment the chorus at church belts out “Joy to the World” with trumpets and bells, the moment of being with my family—especially that little boy who is now 19 and coming home from college. Are we there yet? No! But if I can keep myself in the back seat, screeching with anticipation for just a few more days, I know I will not allow a single one of those Christmas moments to pass me by unnoticed or unwrapped.
What are the moments you are waiting for with anticipation this season?
Thank you
When I was still teaching I had one principal who arranged our faculty party with gift exchange to be held on the Feast of Epiphany after we returned from our Christmas break. Such a great idea since celebrating the bringing of gifts to the Baby Jesus by the Wise Men led to the custom of presents for each other, and, as a practicality, she also told us that the timing would make it possible to do “re-gifting” of items we chose to pass along from those we received and might not want to keep.
What a joy to read this Lisa. It’s a beautiful reminder not to let the “Christmas moments” pass me by “unnoticed or unwrapped”. Thank You
Thank you you for that Lisa. I am on my own, feeling low and your story about the children lifted my spirits. I love kids, so honest (Usually) say what they mean and mean what they say! I so wish I had some children around me, You have given me an idea: Maybe I could listen to them read at the School. Unless I am too old (I am now 80yrs. I do miss children and do have some children as friends, but they too live far away! I well remember the ARE WE THERE YET! God Bless you and the work you do. Happy Advent. A. M.D.G.
Meg,
I would urge you to seek out a Catholic elementary school after the Christmas break and volunteer to read with the children. Some children may be behind in their skill level and would greatly benefit from one on one time. Your work with them would build their confidence! Approach your parish school or near by school. They would welcome your presence!
Oh my. I love this. Yes, let’s stay in hopeful and wondrous anticipation this Blessed Advent until Christmas Day when we can fully rejoice in the Coming of our Saviour and then exchange our presents celebrating his birth.