Second Week of Advent...Peace...12/8/13

Meaning:
The second week, the first candle is lit again and the second  candle is lit in the representation of peace. Christmas is known as a season of peace. Jesus came to bring us spiritual peace and is known as the Prince of Peace.

My thoughts:
As I move in to the 2nd week of Advent, I look to peace. What does it mean to me? What does it mean to others? 

I have shared before that peace needs to start in our own minds and hearts and I still see that right now. Here we are into the holiday season and yet, so many people not at peace. They feel broken and lost. Some are just begging for mercy to get to the next day or even the next hour. My heart breaks for those.
I have been there and I do understand. It is the feelings of despair and no peace is in sight.

So, how is it found? 

Look within! See what you do have. Maybe the only thing you have is a blanket but that is a start. Maybe you are so broke you do not know what to do. Look, do you have a family member to talk with?

My point is, be at peace within and then go outward.  Some will say that is hard and I am here to tell you, I know but, it can be found.
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I have another thought today on "peace". 

This past week the world lost another peace maker, Nelson Mandela. I admired him for his tenacity, his strength and his determination. 

With peace you must have forgiveness too. Nelson Mandela forgave many people for the atrocities laid upon him and he moved forward in peace. He rallied a nation to live together as one. To move out of oppression and move forward into progression.

At this new Advent week, can we forgive ourselves and the people that have hurt us in order to move forward? Can we? 

It is possible! People like Nelson Mandela, Mother Theresa, and yes, Jesus have all showed us how.

Think about it and enjoy the peace this week.

Peace and love,
~Naila Moon

1st Sunday in Advent...Hope and a child

Today is the first Sunday of Advent and the theme is "Hope".
I thought I would first share this reflection I came across and then give you some quick thoughts about it. Go read first and come back.

As you can see we are to not be anxious in what lies ahead but to be sheltered in love and be patient as we wait for hope.

For me that hope, that love, culminated today. My daughter and our family have waited for months now for her son to be born. Today, on the first Sunday of Advent, he made his appearance.

Her joy and love was seen when this photo was taken of her.

I had to wait patiently for hours while she was in labor with only her best friend by her side. I could not be with her. Then after he was born, I waited more hours just to get to see him and her for only a few minutes over Skype, but being sheltered in the love for him and be patient for what lied ahead, I received joy.

My heart is bursting.

Isn't that what Advent is about waiting for the Hope of another child so that our hearts can burst wide open? I think so.

2nd week of Advent...part two

Continuing on with my 2nd week of advent thoughts. I wanted to discuss this:
What is it with that candle thingy?

I have actually heard people ask me this when they have come over to my house or that of my Mom's.  Usually it commences with Mom explaining the meaning of the advent wreath and why ours is a little different from most. (I will get to that in a minute.)

In general: 
The ring of greenery symbolizes eternity, no beginning or ending and the color itself is hope of the newness.

Four outer candles represent the four Sundays in advent prior to Christmas Day. According to this web site it is literally the four centuries of waiting between the prophet Malachi and the actual birth.

The colors of the candles vary depending on churches and traditions. Generally today we see three purple and one pink or blue. The candles have been known to represent different aspects of advent as well like;peace, love, hope and joy.
Some wreaths have an inner candle which represents Jesus birth. A birthday candle you might say. ;)


What kinds of traditions do I have?
From the time I was born to now, my Mother always had an advent wreath in our home. However, our wreath looked (and still does) like this:

My son (left) and nephew on Christmas Day. You can see that all the candles are now lit.

My niece prior to the lightening of the advent wreath a few year back.

In the church that we used to attend eons ago, they always had a wreath that had 4 red candles and the center white one.  (they have since changed that).
This tradition carried over in to our home and each week was observed with each of us four kids coming up with some kind of small service. This could include a song or short prayers.  Mom and Dad always lit the center candle and we had a small service to thank the Christ child for coming in to the world. This was done before opening of presents (as it is today with all the extended family) because it showed the importance of the day.


When we were teens, my Mom was going to go with the three purple and pink candles for the wreath. We threw fits and that year we ended up having two separate wreaths. She never tried changing it again. It is our tradition and is loved to this day.


Peace...Naila Moon

Advent...part 1

We are now in to our second week of Advent. Last week I meant to share some thoughts and neglected to do. So, I am beginning this week.

What is advent really?
Advent in the simplest terms is the preparations we make in order to wait for the coming of the Christ child's birth. I liken it to waiting for the birth of our own babies for 9 months but in this case we wait for 4 weeks. Anticipation is heightened as each week approaches.  I think I even get excited before the 1st week.  I am amazed when I hear someone has never heard of it before...even in my own family. (I am not sure how that happened.)
I recently came upon a video that explains it best!




That is all for now. Later in this week, I will tell you about some of the traditions of advent held in our home.

Peace...Naila Moon