How I will nourish my soul this Advent
It would be so easy to fill the Advent season with all the amazing holiday activities and brilliant resources available but end up missing the point entirely. Instead of feeling nourished and connected, our souls can end up being overwhelmed and wishing for it all to be over. With so many good opportunities, it can be really hard to find what is best for your soul in this particular time. What works one year may not work at all another year. I want to give you (and me) permission to keep it as simple as we need to, to say no to good things, to tweak and make any suggestions work for you.
Last year during Advent, I was recovering from shoulder surgery, in a sling and unable to do almost anything. It was an enforced simplification. I had to cut so many of the traditions and activities that I like to do in this season. Some I really missed and I’m excited to be able to get back to this year. Some I didn’t. It has given me a fresh perspective going into Advent this year. It has been freeing to let myself stay pared back once more.
Choosing what I would do with my daughter and family was fairly simple. Deciding how I would mark this season was less so. There are so many amazing Advent resources around. How could I choose? I could do a few at the same time? I’ve tried that before and know that it does not match up with my goal for a simple Advent. Some of the “no” choices were made easier by the exchange rate between US and Australian dollars plus the cost of postage! Others were a little more tricky. I had no clear “yes” until I saw an Instagram post from Tsh Oxenreider promoting her Advent resource “A Simple Advent Guide”. It fit perfectly with where I am at this year. Simple Scripture reading plan, reflections, lighting a candle each day and even a Spotify playlist to go with it! For you, it may be a different resource.
Whatever resource you choose, let’s not make this another item on our to-do list. Let’s make the choice to be fully present in those moments- whether it is only a two-minute lighting of a candle and thinking about hope, love, joy or peace or a longer time of Scripture and reflection. I am becoming more convinced that nourishing our souls has less to do with finding the perfect activity and more to do with being fully present with our Jesus in everyday moments. Advent devotionals are an invitation to hit pause and refocus. This is what our souls cry out for in the midst of busyness.
So what is the plan for my Advent to look like each day?
- Lighting the candle/s for that week as a family each Sunday.
- Lighting them for myself each morning as I read the corresponding Simple Advent section.
- Truth in the Tinsel reading and colouring with my daughter (and using the brand new Parent Prayers book to pray over her while she colours).
- Ann Voskamp’s The Wonder of the Greatest Gift together as a family as part of our bedtime routine.
- Possibly a Kindness Angel visit or two to help my daughter focus on gratitude and helping others.
If you are still needing help to plan your Advent and decide what to focus on, I designed this free Advent planner and reflections ebook just for you!
I would love to hear about your plans for Advent. How will you nourish your soul in this season?
Disclosure: Jodi Koepke is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. This post contains additional affiliate links linking to Truth in the Tinsel. Thank you for your support of my writing at no extra cost to you.
Disclosure: Jodi Koepke is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. This post contains additional affiliate links linking to Truth in the Tinsel. Thank you for your support of my writing at no extra cost to you.
