Advent: A Season of Waiting & Anticipating

There’s something about this Advent season that means so much to me. Beyond the shopping and gifts, the twinkling of holiday lights, and the hustle and bustle of events, what sets the Advent season apart for me is the profound lesson it carries. It’s like a reminder etched in the flickering glow of those Advent candles—each week, another candle, another step closer to the big day.

The Advent season, rooted in biblical teachings, imparts meaningful lessons: Hope, symbolized by the first candle, reminds us that even in the darkest moments, a glimmer of expectation can light our path. The second candle, representing peace, reflects the tranquil assurance that amidst chaos, there is a divine order guiding our journey. Joy, embodied in the third candle, teaches us to find moments of celebration and gratitude, even amid challenges. Lastly, the fourth candle, a beacon of love, emphasizes the transformative power of compassion and giving.

These lessons echo throughout the Bible, culminating in the birth of Jesus—a manifestation of hope, peace, joy, and love. The Advent season serves as a spiritual roadmap, urging us to cultivate these virtues in our lives, fostering a sense of connection, resilience, and grace as we navigate our own waiting periods and share in the collective anticipation of a brighter, more harmonious future.

During this holiday season, I have been diving deeper into the Advent and its meaning. The more I study, the more I realize how the Advent season mirrors the human experience of waiting, compelling me to reflect on my personal experience with waiting.  

As parents of children with rare diseases, we often find ourselves caught in an enduring waiting period. Our journey is marked by persistent anticipation for breakthroughs in medical research, advancements in treatment, or answers to complex medical dilemmas. In many ways, the waiting becomes an unwavering companion, a constant presence in our lives as we navigate the uncertainties and challenges unique to our situation. Often, the waiting feels arduous and painstaking. But the Advent season’s message of patience and resilience reminds us that while challenging, waiting can also be a space for growth, advocacy, and unwavering love for our children. It’s a poignant reminder that, just as the world waited for the arrival of a savior during Advent, we patiently await care and treatment that could bring healing and hope for our loved ones.

Waiting is a transformative journey, a chance to reflect, grow, and appreciate the beauty that unfolds in the pauses between our desires and their fulfillment. Just as the season encourages us to embrace patience, it prompts a deeper understanding of the profound lessons learned during the journey of waiting.

Most of this year, I found myself caught in the delicate dance of waiting—a dance that carries a weight far beyond the twinkling lights and festive decorations. In my season of waiting, the daily routines intertwined with hospital visits, specialist appointments, and the unwavering hope that whispered in the background. In the quiet corners of my heart, there’s a yearning for answers. Each day, like a door on an advent calendar, holds the anticipation of progress, breakthroughs, and a glimpse of a future where my child’s struggles may find reprieve.

I find myself reflecting on the strength it takes to endure the waiting—the resilience woven into the fabric of our lives. During the Advent season, I find encouragement in the stories of those who have navigated their waiting with unwavering faith, from the biblical figures patiently anticipating the fulfillment of prophecies and the birth of Jesus to individuals in contemporary times facing trials with resilience. The reminder that others have waited, trusted in God, and emerged with renewed strength becomes a source of comfort and inspiration. It reinforces the idea that, just as these individuals found solace and purpose in their waiting, I, too, can draw strength from a deeper well of faith and perseverance during my own moments of anticipation.

The more I reflect, the more I realize that there is a particular type of waiting that parents of children with rare diseases must embrace: active waiting. Or perhaps, better said, this is the type of waiting that is thrust upon us. We are never sitting idle or passively waiting. Our children’s diseases do not afford us that luxury. We are in a constant state of action and movement, advocating, working, and pushing things forward.

The concept of active waiting is also embedded in the spirit of Advent. Just as Advent calls us to actively prepare for the celebration of Christ’s birth, the journey with a rare disease compels us to engage in active waiting. It involves purposeful engagement and introspection during the waiting period. Rather than passively enduring, we are prompted to actively participate in the transformation that occurs in the waiting. Like cultivating the soil before a harvest, active waiting involves preparing our hearts and minds and embracing the lessons of hope, peace, joy, and love. It is an invitation to seek meaning, growth, and connection in the midst of anticipation, turning waiting into a deliberate and enriching journey. It’s not just waiting; it’s an active and purposeful journey of reflection and growth.

The Advent season offers messages that resonate across time and diverse experiences. As we embark on the journey of waiting, be it for the birth of Jesus, breakthroughs in medical science, or personal milestones, we find solace in the shared narratives of anticipation. The active waiting encouraged during Advent serves as a guiding light, urging us to participate purposefully in our own transformation. Christmas is not just a passive countdown; it’s an invitation to engage, reflect, and grow in the waiting. It’s about realizing that the waiting isn’t a mere intermission but a deliberate part of the narrative.

In the echoes of biblical stories and the lived experiences of those who have trusted in the midst of waiting, we discover a universal truth — that waiting, when approached with hope, peace, joy, love, and active engagement, becomes a sacred space where resilience is forged, faith is strengthened, and the beauty of anticipation unfolds.

With its Advent season, Christmas is this subtle invitation to trust in the waiting. Trust that even in the silence between the flickering candles, there’s a divine plan unfolding. Trust in the goodness that awaits and trust that light can pierce through the darkest nights.

Romans 15:13 resonates deeply within my heart: “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” This verse has become my mantra, a reminder that hope is not just a fleeting emotion but a reservoir that overflows, sustaining us through the darkest moments. Amid the challenges, the promise of a Savior’s birth reminds me that even in the most unexpected circumstances, there is room for miracles.

So, here’s to the Advent season – to waiting, to hoping, to finding light in the most unexpected places, and to trusting in the divine rhythm that orchestrates our journey. In the quiet moments of waiting, may the flame of hope burn brightly, guiding us toward breakthroughs, answers, and the joyous moments we yearn for.

So this year, I will eagerly await God’s promises like a child awaiting presents under the tree. Though the waiting has made me weary, I will not let my heart grow cold. I will actively wait with an expectant heart and a trust that deepens my faith and gives me renewed strength to exude more hope, joy, peace, and love!

May the season of Advent not only be a time of celebration but also a source of inspiration and encouragement for all parents navigating the seasons of waiting with a rare disease. After all, the most beautiful stories are written in the active, intentional waiting that shapes our journey.

Merry Christmas!

Yours in waiting,