Advent calendars add to the joy of the Christmas season

"Prepare the way for the Lord ..."

- Matthew 3:3 (NIV)

I was out shopping with one of my adult sons when I noticed an advent calendar in his cart, and I mentioned it to him.

"I just wanted something that felt like Christmas" he told me.

Advent calendars have been one of my favorite Christmas traditions since childhood. I was delighted when I noticed my joy for the calendars had rubbed off on my son.

These traditional calendars are not just for the young, but bring extra joy to the young at heart. I cherished them for several years and, oftentimes, use them to spark some extra interest in each day, as I celebrate the season from the first of December until the highlight on Christmas Day.

What I enjoy about them is the secret boxes within the calendar. It's mystical to search for the box on the front of the calendar numbered for that day's date. Opening the flap brings some type of special saying or delightful treat.

This fun, joyful activity takes on all sorts of varieties. Over the years, I've had calendars with scenes of winter wonderlands, Charlie Brown's gang singing carols, manger scene (depicting the holy night).

Nowadays, the selection is endless. This year, I saw a local sales flyer that has advent calendars filled with cheeses and wine. Others contain chocolates (that's the one my son bought). Some have toys such as Legos. Others are filled with jewelry or special trinkets.

These calendars have gained such popularity that there are even Christmas movies where the main theme or title evolves around an advent calendar.

I'm not making a sales pitch or endorsing a product to you, but only offering a fun project that can add joy to the season. Even if you're alone, this little calendar can light up each day with a special surprise. Most are inexpensive, but you can get as elaborate as you like with them.

But the special beauty of the calendar is that it is, oftentimes, used in many church denominations to point out the season of joy and hope in anticipation of the celebration of Christ's birthday on Christmas Day.

Many use the days from Dec. 1 through 25 as a time of prayer or fasting. Focusing on each day of the season makes it more joyful as we place some of our attention on the spiritual meaning for the season. It can refresh the soul during shopping, baking and cooking or gift wrapping.

I like to imagine the advent season as a time of miraculous adventure. After all, advent is the root word of adventure. I like to conceive that something miraculous could take place each day as I open that little box on the page.

This advent season, as we prepare to celebrate the birth of Christ, let's pray and ask God to bless us with adventures each day that will renew our hope and joy, and add some special new meaning to the Christmas season this year.

• Annettee Budzban is an author, speaker, life coach, nurse and bible teacher. Annettee is available to speak to your church group, business, civic organization or be your personal life coach. She can be contacted at Annetteebudzban@aol.com or (847) 543-8413. Sign up now for her conference, Writing for Fun or Profit in February 2020.