Weekend Wisdom - December 8th, 2024

“There is a season for everything, and a time for every event under heaven.” Ecclesiastes 3:1

Friends, we “know” God has perfect timing but how many times in our lives do we strive against His timing trying our best to make our timelines work?

Back when I was a bright-eyed college student, I remember having a conversation with a mentor about my post-college life plan.  I would be easily securing a teaching job, Jon and I would get married, live our best lives for two years, buy a house, have two kids, and live happily ever after.  She responded with a twinkle in her eye, “Wow, Molly, you really have it all planned out.”  I have always been a planner.  Well-laid out logistics and timelines put order in my world and for a long time I thought that order also brought me peace.  Fortunately that plan above was also God’s plan, I just got lucky that it aligned with my hopes and dreams.

It took major life upheaval while holding on tight to plans, timelines, logistics, and order for me to realize that while helpful, those aren’t the things that bring peace.  Only God can do that.  The same is true for all the gifts we focus on this Advent season: hope, love, and joy.

What if we lean heavily into God’s timing this Advent season?  What if we, like the church, make Advent our new year, our own start to the week, the Sunday of the structure of our lives?  We fill our Advent with hopeful waiting, loving care for others, seeking moments of peaceful calm, and soaking up every single joyful moment that presents itself.  We can lean into Advent as a starting and launching point rather than packing away all the joy, love, hope, and peace after Christmas and going into January hardening our hearts for an unnecessary battle.  Carry with you your gratitude from November and let this Advent change your heart for the journey ahead. When we let go of some of our control and get comfortable with letting God lead our lives, we can relish these gifts and they will change our everyday lives.

With Heart and Soul,

Molly Mares, Principal

Notre Dame of De Pere