The day after Thanksgiving. Some celebrate it as Black Friday. I’ve done that a couple of times, but now, I want to stay as far away as possible. Now  I celebrate this day with a tradition started when I was first married.

Every year we would celebrate the day after Thanksgiving by putting up our Christmas tree and decorations. Preparations for Christmas had begun. Thanksgiving was over, and the next day, in my opinion, was the beginning of the Christmas Season, or Advent.

Advent is a time for preparation. Advent means “coming” and during Advent we remember the coming of Jesus by celebrating his birth. We do not only celebrate Jesus’ birth. We also remember Jesus said he was coming again.

While Advent is a time of preparation, I find the challenge is remembering I’m not only preparing to celebrate the birth of Jesus. I’m also preparing for his coming again. How do I prepare for that? I prepare by finding opportunities to draw near to Jesus in love. Through scripture, prayer, and times with the community of faith, I am preparing, not just for Christmas celebrations, but for a far greater coming yet to be.