I can’t believe Advent is starting already! And I’m talking more than just the advent calendar full of chocolate that I have stowed in my closet for E and I. I love advent, the readings and the reminder about what Christmas really is about. The hope, love, peace and joy that it brings is simply amazing. It also helps to slow the season down. Things seem to go so fast and it’s easy to get caught up in all the “extras” without realizing we are missing the most important thing, Jesus birth!

This year I’m trying to focus on the themes of each week and talk about them with E. He’s still young and some themes are harder to explain than others. I’m doing one verse with each theme per week (there is a download at the bottom if you want a copy). It simplifies things and I can keep it on my fridge without it getting lost. Needless to say this week I am doing hope, the anticipation of what is to come. And what a wonderful thing it is that came!

Unfortunately hope is a little bit difficult to grasp when you don’t have a concept of time or future events. People in the Old Testament didn’t know when exactly Jesus was coming, whether it would be in their lifetime or not but they still were able to anticipate it. However, trying to explain this to a toddler can be hard. I know toddlers “hope” for things, they often ask with anticipation and know something good is coming. But to truly understand the concept requires a few more turns around the sun.

Kids understand wanting something desirable. E asks to feed the dog, for him it’s a fun task that allows him to take charge of the dog (yes he’s quite bossy). He knows the appropriate time for feeding (once I start making supper) and will ask me repeatedly until I’m ready to say yes. It’s hard for him to understand when I say “a few more minutes,” or “wait until mama can clean her hands.” To kids, a few more minutes means it’s never going to happen. But that feeling they have of anticipation and excitement is, in a nutshell, hope.

For the Israelites, they had to wait years and years and some never got to see Jesus. Yet they still had hope of his arrival. That truly is the definition of hope, having faith in something you may not get to see (Hebrews 11:1). So for our kids, all we can do is talk about it with them to help them understand. Especially to emphasize the fact that this hope we talk about in Advent is more than just hoping to be able to feed the dog, or hoping for a specific toy for Christmas. This is everlasting hope, this is anticipation of a wonderful gift, one that has more meaning than we will ever comprehend.

So I will start small. We’ll look at pictures of E when he was a baby and talk about how excited we were before he was born. Then we’ll talk about his little nativity set and the baby Jesus who also was anticipated. I’ll emphasize how E may be hopeful that something happens (hopeful to go outside, hopeful to do some mixing etc). And we’ll pray. I’m not doing anything big or grand this year. Just setting the foundation for future years.

I’m sure next year E will have a better grasp on what it is to hope for things and we will be able to do more advent type activities. Until then I will work it in when the moment is right. These big concepts have such a huge impact on kids lives and I look forward to sharing it with him.

So on this first Sunday of Advent, I hope you turn your hearts towards, well hope! The anticipation of what this season really means, despite what may be going on around you. Try to be as hopeful as my toddler at supper time, waiting to feed the dog! I’m kidding, but I do hope you remember the love and peace that was born on Christmas Day and let that be your hope for this season.

And of course the printables for the season are below. Nothing fancy or special, 4 weeks, 1 verse for each week. Take some time to reflect on them and talk with your family about each theme!