the advent football

There was a football in the middle of our advent study today. You don’t have one in your Scripture passage? Well, we had one in ours.

I’ve been attempting to stay on course and begin our day with reading our passage and thinking about Christ coming to earth. We’re doing well so far – and I can say this truthfully because it is only day two. In my mind its a beautiful plan, because I am free to romanticize everything there.

In reality it is complicated to pull off ; mostly because my children and I are humans with, I’ll just say it, sin natures. We needed Jesus to come to earth.

Back to the football.

My son and daughter were trying to finish their breakfast, so that we could get on to our Advent plans. They were pushing each others’ buttons and fighting over something. But, I couldn’t figure out what…

As I cleared the breakfast table, the squabbling continued. I could hear them wrestling in the living room, which is unusual for them. Well, I had it. “EVERYONE IN THE DINING ROOM- IN YOUR CHAIRS – AT THE TABLE. NOW!” My patience had gone missing right about then and I was begging the Lord to help me find it. I drew a deep breath.

My sweet, but disobedient children – were not at the table. I corralled them into the dining room – and I began to read the story… The reading from the Advent passage “For unto us a child is born. Unto us a Son is given…” And Isaac burst into tears… “She won’t give me my football” – I attempted to assure him that everything would be okay, patted his head and kept reading.

“SHE WON’T GIVE ME MY FOOTBALL!” he wailed. I stared at him. And then at Emily.

Here is the short version of a very long and confusing saga – she had taken his little football change purse and wouldn’t return it, because he had taken her money and put it in his football change purse.

greed. stealing. anger. It is all a part of the Advent story, right?

Once we made everything right, returned the purse to its rightful owner, apologies made, smiles on faces – I was able to continue with some of our Scripture reading.

“The people walking in darkness
have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of deep darkness
a light has dawned.”

Without the good news foretold in Isaiah – “a light has dawned,” we, here at the Day household would be stumbling around in the shadows : an impatient mother, with children fighting over a tiny football change purse – living a life of selfishness and sin. See – there was a football, front and center in our Advent story…

But there is one who came. Isaiah told of His coming prophetically in chapter 9…

“For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the greatness of his government and peace
there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne
and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
with justice and righteousness
from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the LORD Almighty
will accomplish this.”