The Gift of Being Present this Advent Season!

We took a break from our weekly gratitude postings in order to Celebrate the Advent Season. We often get caught up in the materialistic nature of the holiday, focusing only on the must have gifts, the parties and the treats. We lose sight that Advent is not only a period of waiting for Jesus' birth, but also a time for repentance and renewal.

The students had the opportunity offer the gift of presence to their families and to one another. The students made a paper chain and on each chain loop were different tasks to be completed for each day of Advent. Each day, the students were to tear off a loop and complete that required task or substitute it with another similar activity. After completing the activity, the students were asked to reflect on their actions, journal their thoughts, feelings and attitudes toward that activity. If the action involved others, they were asked to write about how it may have impacted the other person or people and/or how they may have felt about it.

I am pleased to share some of their thoughts on the gift of being present...

"Today I had to read a gospel by any of the writers so I chose Luke 2:1-20. Luke's Gospel was about the birth of Jesus. But his was a little different. He talked quickly of how Joseph had to go to Bethlehem and where Mary had the Baby Jesus. It was more about the angels telling the Shepard's to come and worship the baby in the manger. The angels went up to them in the fields and said 'Glory to God in High Heaven, peace on earth to whom his favor rests.' When the Shepard's came to Jesus, they understood what it meant. I really enjoyed this version of the birth of Jesus because it talks more about the Shepard's that were sort of pushed away and not spoken about a lot. This, I think showed that Jesus wanted to welcome all people - meager Shepard's and gallant kings."


"I stared into the night sky and tried to calm my boiling thoughts. I slowly but surely, slipped into a calm state of mind and I said a little prayer of thanks to God. I thank Him for my friends, family and the good times this Christmas!"

"Today I made a God's eye for our Christmas tree. As I hung it up I realized that our small little tree looked extraordinarily beautiful this year!"

"When I prayed for the world's hungry today, I also prayed for peace. I hope that one day we will have peace and that no one will be hungry."