I have always loved advent calendars! I love the idea of opening a drawer or a window and finding a wonderful treat just for me. Be that treat a candy or a pair of socks or a movie or whatever it is, it is an immediate pick up for the winter time blues. A few years back, right around the time I seriously committed to collecting Nativities, I thought it would be such a delight to have a Nativity advent calendar. After much searching I found the one it was for every day during the month of December and it was a precious moments nativity. Oh, be still my beating heart!! *imagine intense anime heart eyes* However due to the cost of the nativity we didn't purchase it, until now!! Yes, that's right my Mother finally splurged, it helps that there's finally a grandchild in the picture who could benefit from it in the future. The precious is finally mine!
Now the set is adorable and on its own it's pretty perfect but I got this idea in my head that we could increase the overall awesomeness by adding to the advent experience. I decided that for each day and each figure I would connect it to a scripture, article, video, song, etc. To teach a deeper lesson and give greater meaning to the Christmas season and the Nativity at the center of it. At first I hoped I could find something online and "borrow" *cough, cough* copy *cough* their ideas. But it was not to be, after some quick searches I couldn't find exactly what I was looking for and, much like a frosting color when you can't find the exact match you're looking for you, gotta make it yourself!
So in the beginning of November my adventure started. I can tell you what I was expecting: I was expecting to feel the spirit and find something here or there that I hadn't already mentally chosen. I was expecting to take a week or so tops and then be done. And to be completely honest I was mostly expecting it to be a rather tedious addition to my morning scripture study. My expectations have been completely blown out of the water!! I'm not entirely sure how to express in words just how revelatory and spiritually filling this experience has been.
I have looked at each item in the nativity calendar to use as a guide but as you'd imagine there really weren't 24 different characters to be found in the scriptural accounts of Christ's birth. So to fill the empty spaces there are a few added figures, as in 5 different sheep, 3 camels, a cow, 2 bays of hay among others. I mean where am I supposed to go scripturally with a hay bale?!? I felt a little overwhelmed but thankfully the first few figures were pretty expected (Mary and Joseph) and incredibly moving to find a different item(s) of media to connect to them. So I figured I could find a way to make a hay bale and a cow spiritual. And believe it or not I actually did! It took some pondering, thinking about what exactly as artist might be trying to symbolize in these different figures and what aspects of the nativity story I felt needed to be touched on. What followed was revelation, there's no other word for it. I have felt so blessed to have Heavenly Fathers help as I've made this journey. It is a powerful reminder to me that if we ask in faith and through prayer, He'll help us. When people say, "It matters to Him because it matters to you" I can honestly say I know that to be true. I would encourage you to find something, maybe it's not a Nativity themed advent calendar, to study and deeply ponder about and you'll be amazed to see revelation flow from heaven straight to you.
Now that I've built this up to heights I'm sure it'll hardly reach let's go though the Nativity Advent:
Dec.1st: Mary
Read; Mary, the mother of Jesus from the January 2019 Ensign.
Listen to; Pentatonix's version of Mary did you know? found on YouTube.
At first I wasn't going to add any thoughts to this prompt. However, I feel impressed to do otherwise. Mary is one of few women named in the scriptures and although her story is certainly not the focus nor should we worship her I believe there is much we can learn from her humble willingness to accept God's will for her life. Something I believe she taught to her Son that led him to say, "Thy will not mine be done." So much of who we are comes from our mothers and I hope and pray that one day I will have the opportunity to be a mother like Mary.
Dec. 2nd: Joseph
Watch; The first Christmas spirit a video focusing on Joseph's feelings and impressions during the childhood of Jesus created by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. There is something beautiful about Joseph being trusted as the foster father of the Son of God. We don't know much of him, or how his story ends. But I believe the most important truth we learn from Joseph is to seek to be spiritually in tune with the Lord and follow any directions he sends us; as Joseph did when he followed his revelatory dreams 3 different times in the scriptures.
Dec. 3rd: Donkey (Trip to Bethlehem)
Read; The road to Bethlehem from December 1995 Ensign. In my desire to make this as easily accessible as possible and also as doctrinaly accurate I had to remove the focus from a sweet donkey that carried Mary to Bethlehem and instead focus on the journey Mary and Joseph simply took to fulfill prophecy that Jesus Christ would be born in Bethlehem. However! If you are looking for a sweet more donkey focused story I'd reccomend Small One by Alex Walsh (apparently there is also a short 30min animation that depicts this story as well, which you can actually find on disney+).
Dec. 4th: Hay Bale (The Inn/Innkeeper)
Read; Trouble at the Inn a short story originally published in readers digest. There's debate about whether or not this is a true story but regardless the message is beautiful.
Listen to; Let Him In from the Forgotten Carols by Michael McLean. It tells the fictional story of an innkeepers response following his experience with the Christ child. Now this may seem like quite the 180° after I just said that I didn't focus on the donkey because it wasn't necessarily doctrinaly accurate and there's not a lot of doctrinal backup for a "mean innkeeper" who turns away Mary and Joseph. However we do know that Bethlehem was crowed and room was limited, leading Mary and Joseph to find more creative lodgings. However I wanted to keep the idea of the Innkeeper because it allows us to ponder and decide if we are going to let Christ in or if we've decided there just isn't room?
Dec. 5th Hay Bale (The Manger/Swaddling cloths)
Read; Tasting the Bread of Life another Ensign article this one from December 1998.
I think the most beautiful part of this idea of swaddling is simply the knowledge that from the day He was born, He was loved. I truly believe that so much of our ability to love others comes from the love we feel. So send out some love today and see how it comes back to you.
Dec. 6th: Cow (The "stable")
Read; In a stable from the 1992 December New Era. This is actually a song however I couldn't find a video or any sort of music for it so I would simply reccomend you read it as a poem. Or if you are musically inclined you can find the sheet music for it on churchofjesuschrist.org
Read; Christmas is Christ-like love from a 2014 Christmas devotional. Now just to clarify there is some debate doctrinally and among scholar's about where exactly Christ was born, a stable that Mary and Joseph found along their way, a cave like area were they were led or possibly a courtyard type area that would've belonged to one of their families in Bethlehem. So although the "stable" is the prompt for this day it's not really what I think should be focused on. Rather focus on the truth that He was born and although He was the king of kings his start and his life were humble and certainly not that of a king. In this way I believe he is more approachable, He can truly understand and comfort us.
Dec. 7th: Angel
Read; The littlest Angel by Charles Tazewell. This beautiful children's story tells the tale of a small child who becomes as angel and his role in the announcement of Jesus' birth. You can find the book here through Amazon. It's also been made into a short and sweet cartoon movie. Now if you can't afford to buy the book or if you just don't want to don't worry! You can also listen to it being read right here on youtube!
Dec. 8th: Angel
Listen to: This beautiful song performed by a multitude of incredibly talented YouTube creators from the Piano Guys to Peter Hollens and David Archuleta. It's beautiful and gives me goosebumps everyone.
Read: A season for Angels by Elder Bateman from the December 2007 Ensign.
Dec. 9th: Sheep
Read; Luke 2:8-20 OR Watch; Shepherds learn of the birth of Christ if you don't have access to a Bible you can get an online version here.
Dec. 10th: Shepherd with Sheep beside him
Read; Shepherds a poem by Teresa Bateman from the December 1979 New Era.
Read; In Shepherds' field an article from the December 2008 Ensign. Meet our first shepherd! We have two others on the way. I wanted each Shepherd to connect to us, the audience, after all are we not at times both sheep and shepherds? So this article is an individuals experience of being in the Holy land at the shepherds field.
Dec. 11th: Sheep
Read or Act out; The shepherds find love an "imaginative story" from a December 1974 Ensign. With both of these stories there is quite a bit of creative licensing taking place. However I felt that this would connect with any children participating in the adventure. After all, I find the shepherds example of dropping everything to go find Jesus at the invite of the Angels rather child-like in obedience, don't you?
Dec. 12th: Kneeling Shepherd
Listen to: Where Shepherds lately Knelt. This is easily one of the most beautiful Christmas songs I've found. I love the message conveyed of a shepherds humble experience being trusted with the knowledge of Jesus Chirst. My favorite lyric? "Can I, will I forget how Love was born, and burned
Its way into my heart unasked, unforced, unearned"
Dec. 13th: Sheep
Listen to: Royal Choral Society: Hallelujah chorus in isolation. This remarkable performance of Handel's Hallelujah chorus brought to me thoughts and feeling of angels filling the heavens to rejoice in the birth of our Savior. And although this Christmas may look quite different we can still rejoice heart and soul at the birth of our Savior.
Read; A modern angelic host from the 2019 Christmas devotional.
Dec. 14th: Shepherd
Read; A Savior is Born from the 2015 December Ensign. This talk focuses on what the shepherds did after seeing and knowing Jesus. They go out and testify fearlessly to everyone the truths they have learned for themselves.
Listen to; He was here or as I refer to it, The Shepherds song from the Forgotten carols. Again we see shepherds going out and sharing what they know, only this time the focus is in those who are choosing to believe on their words. Hopefully and more than likely in our lives we will be both a Shepherd and a trusting believer. Where are you now? Where do you want to be?
Dec. 15th: Sheep
Read; Make us thy true undershepherd this is an article from Church News. She points out some of the symbolism of Christ's birth. Of the shepherds who first saw Him and of who He is as our Good Shepherd.
Dec. 16th: Sheep
Read; Walking with the Shepherds.
Read; Mosiah 18:8-10. If you don't have a copy of the Book of Mormon you can get a copy here. If you've never heard of the Book of Mormon you can ask these incredible people. You know, it's hard to believe that for over a week now we have focused on the sheep and shepherds who bore witness to the birth of Christ. This article is the perfect way to sum it all up. We have been given the invitation, the command really (especially if we've been baptized) to be a witness of Jesus Christ. There is no better time to deepen our commitment to witness of Him than during this Christmas season.
Dec. 17th: Star
Read; Helaman 14:2-5 from the Book of Mormon, use the reccomend link from earlier to get the online Book of Mormon if needed.
Watch; Light the World video
Read; The Christmas Candle by Richard Paul Evans. This is a meaningful lesson about having eyes to see others as they truly are, children of God and part of our family all wrapped up in the guise of a children story. It's one of my favorites and you can buy it here I promise it'll be worth it! However if money is tight this year and buying this new book won't work for you, you can instead listen to it being read right now.
Dec. 18th: Wisemen
Watch; The Wise men seek Jesus Bible video
Read; Gold, frankincense and myrrh from the December 2016 New Era. The video tells the biblical account of the wise men and more or less covers everything we know. The article dives a little deeper and explains some of the symbolism and meaning behind the actions and gifts of the wise men.
Dec. 19th: Camel
Listen to; the Forgotten Carols three kings song. It's a beautiful reminder that Jesus was found and if we seek for him, we will find him again.
Read; Gold, Circumstance and Mud a story by Rex Knowles. In lieu of a link to lead you to this story I have simply copied it (with sources) right here.
"It was the week before Christmas, I was baby-sitting with our four older children while my wife took the baby for his check-up. (Baby-sitting to me means reading the paper while the kids mess up the house.)
Only that day I wasn’t reading. I was fuming. On every page of the paper, as I flicked angrily through them, gifts glittered and reindeer pranced, and I was told that there were only six more days in which to rush out and buy what I couldn’t afford and nobody needed. What, I asked myself indignantly, did the glitter and the rush have to do with the birth of Christ?
There was a knock on the door of the study where I had barricaded myself. Then Nancy’s voice, “Daddy, we have a play to put on. Do you want to see it?”
I didn’t. But I had fatherly responsibilities so I followed her into the living room. Right away I knew it was a Christmas play for at the foot of the piano stool was a lighted flashlight wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in a shoe box.
Rex (age 6) came in wearing my bathrobe and carrying a mop handle. He sat on the stool, looked at the flashlight. Nancy (10) draped a sheet over her head, stood behind Rex and began, “I’m Mary and this boy is Joseph. Usually in this play Joseph stands up and Mary sits down. But Mary sitting down is taller than Joseph standing up so we thought it looked better this way.”
Enter Trudy (4) at a full run. She never has learned to walk. There were pillowcases over her arms. She spread them wide and said only, “I’m an angel.”
Then came Anne (8). I knew right away she represented a wise man. In the first place she moved like she was riding a camel (she had on her mother’s high heels). And she was bedecked with all the jewelry available. On a pillow she carried three items, undoubtedly gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
She undulated across the room, bowed to the flashlight, to Mary, to Joseph, to the angel, and to me and then announced, “I’m all three wise men. I bring precious gifts: gold, circumstance, and mud.”
That was all. The play was over. I didn’t laugh. I prayed. How near the truth Anne was! We come at Christmas burdened down with gold—with the showy gift and the tinsely tree. Under the circumstances we can do no other, circumstances of our time and place and custom. And it seems a bit like mud when we think of it.
But I looked at the shining faces of my children, as their audience of one applauded them, and remembered that a Child showed us how these things can be transformed. I remembered that this Child came into a material world and in so doing eternally blessed the material. He accepted the circumstances, imperfect and frustrating, into which He was born, and thereby infused them with the divine. And as for mud—to you and me it may be something to sweep off the rug, but to all children it is something to build with.
Children see so surely through the tinsel and the habit and the earthly, to the love which, in them all, strains for expression." [The Guideposts Christmas Treasury (Carmel, NY: Guideposts Associates, 1972), pp. 197–98]
Dec. 20th: Wisemen
Read; the definition of Magi in the Bible Dictionary. This is a resource found in the scriptures printed by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. You can also find it online like in this instance.
Read; the story of the fourth wise man. This is a fictional story written by Henry Van Dyke. Now the truth of the matter is we do not know how many wise men there were. More than one thats for certain. However I love this short story that helps us look at the gifts we give to him. Slight spoiler the story does end with the passing of the fourth wise man, it's a little strange, and might be hard for any young readers to grasp, but push through overall the story it beautiful and very poignant.
Dec. 21st: Camel
Watch; What can I give Him? This is a beautiful poem. Everytime I listen to this I get chills! I stumbled upon it by chance and it's a beautiful way to ponder and search my own soul during christmas time.
Read; The Search for Jesus by President Monson from a December 1990 Ensign.
Dec. 22nd: Wisemen
Watch; Wise men still seek him video.
Read; The little Wise men from the December 1985 Friend. This is the most precious story about being a modern day wise man by showing love to those around you. I think the best part is the children didn't go out seeking to be "wise men" however when we seek to follow Jesus that's just who we become.
Dec. 23rd: Camel
Watch; What shall we give? A music Christmas video.
Read; A Christmas with No Present by President Faust from the December 2001 Ensign. I will end the story of the wisemen with this final thought: what will you give Him this Christmas?
Dec. 24th: Baby Jesus
Read; The Living Christ.
Watch; The Chirst Child: a Nativity Story
I can't believe this is over. This has been an incredible journey. My love for my Savior has grown as I've done this advent. And I deeply hope yours has too. I know the Christmas season can get busy, can seem over commercial and it can be hard to remember what it's all really about. And I know for so many of us this Christmas is unlike any other, some of us are lonely and away from our families others of us may be anxious or mourning. But through it all the magic of Christmas is in knowing what it's all really about. It's about a baby who came down and loved us, who lived to show us the way and who died that we could have Hope. So have hope this Christmas and always because of Him.
Merry Christmas to all!
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