We put the finishing touches on Christmas decorations at our house by putting nandina and a sprig from the Christmas tree in the vase I bought at Mary Elizabeth's (Chuff's) auction. The last decoration is always making an apple tree for the dining room table. I think this idea came from a Southern Living show years ago. We have a green, wooden cone shaped base with nails that we hang apples on and then fill in the empty spaces with boxwood from the yard. I love the look and also love that it stays pretty for a couple of weeks.
In Lattimore the other day, I took a picture of the fence and barn with garland and red bows. The wooden fence was built after Mama saw fences in Kentucky and thought they were pretty. Then she had seen a magazine picture with garland and bows and had dreamed of decorating their fence for Christmas. So several years ago, Daddy wanted to fulfill Mama's dream and we went on a hunt for garland. We were lucky to find Christmas garland from a local decorator that was a bargain. Now every Christmas, Abel and other helpers pull out the garland and the red bows and arrange them on the fence like the picture in Mama's magazine. Mama keeps magazines with ideas she likes of all kinds of things. Some she keeps for years and years. Some dreams are fulfilled and some are not. She shows us things she loves but she never begs or whines for anything. Mama might be the most patient person I know.
Patience has never been my strong suit. Especially at Christmas. There is a reason people say "It's slow as Christmas". One time Daddy and I were talking about patience - which doesn't come naturally to him either - and he said, "you have to practice patience everyday". Which makes me think of Advent. Because Advent requires practicing patience. It's a time to reflect on sadness and happiness. And on Hope, Peace, Joy, Love, Unity.
As a child, I don't remember learning about advent, but in recent years it is something I have enjoyed studying and practicing. This year we recieved a booklet from Gardner-Webb with wonderful descriptions of the season of Advent and daily devotionals written by various people from the university.
There is a quote from Frederick Buechner comparing Advent to a concert about to begin. "The house lights go off and the footlights come on. Even the chattiest stop as they wait in the darkness for the curtain to rise. In the orchestra pit, the violin bows are poised. The conductor has raised his baton.. the extraordinary thing that is about to happen is matched only by the extraordinary moment just before it happens. Advent is the name of that moment."
Advent is a season of anticipation, but the trick is to anticipate while honestly reflecting. "Holy reflection, appropriate longing and meaningful confession that then leads to joyous celebration" is the way one GWU professor describes it. Wow. Holy, appropriate, meaningful, joyous. Reflection, longing, confession, celebration.
So the last decorations are in place, the boys are out of school, friends and family will be gathering, there will be many things to do. And I am glad to use GWU's booklet to carve out a a little time everyday to practice patience and to reflect on the season.
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