I put together a rudimentary advent wreath using a plate, some potpourri for decoration, and a few candles I had stored away. Oh, and the very important addition of a small gold angel covered in glitter (Josie’s favorite part). She rests against the middle “Christ candle” but comes down for frequent visits with toddler hands. We may get fancy and add an actual WREATH at some point (arguably a critical feature), but for now we’re making due with what I could find at home. (Taking 2 children out to a craft store, which is 30+ minutes away, when there’s 8 inches of snow on the ground is no small task!)

So, though our “wreath” is simple and doesn’t follow all the correct specifications, hopefully the heart behind it will please our Lord and do the intended work – to prepare our hearts for His arrival.

But this blog isn’t REALLY about the wreath – it’s about Josie’s prayer during dinner after we lit the first candle.

Usually her dinnertime prayer goes something like this: “Dear God, thank you for this food, and these plates and our forks….amen.” Sometimes she thanks God for all the people at the table, and sometimes she thanks Him for all the people she can think of – “…and uncle Bitz, and Big Ellie, and Nana, and Uncle Dick…” Occasionally she thanks God for something that happened that day – “Thank you that Nana turned on the video for me.”

After the advent candle was lit, she prayed:

“God, thank you for this life and this food. Thank you that God is coming tomorrow – we lighted the first candle – and thank you for Daddy, Mommy, Ellie, ……..”

The “God is coming tomorrow” comment is in reference to our expectation of Christmas. Jesus is coming – and she says this often, in random toddler-esque song or playful shouting – but I think it says something that her prayer tonight was “God is coming.” I learn so much from Josie. Yes, maybe she simply jumbled the words in her head, and so instead of saying “Jesus” she said “God.” But the thing is, she wasn’t wrong. GOD came down and dwelt among us – Jesus was both fully man and fully God. I recently learned that in Greek Orthodox Christianity, Mary is called the “Theotokos” – the “God Bearer.” What a weighty title! The rest of us may be tempted to see a cute little plastic Jesus hanging out in the quaint little plastic manger, but in her innocence our sweet toddler isn’t fooled: He is God. What a great reminder!

 

And she said he is coming “tomorrow” – again, we could laugh. He’s not coming tomorrow! Christmas isn’t for several weeks! And the second coming isn’t happening tomorrow – surely – because our schedules are too full for that….

 

But when is “tomorrow?” It’s a time yet unkown, a time in the future, a time for which we can make plans and set paths, but which is completely out of our control. The Lord directs the future. And when will Jesus come again to reign? In the future – perhaps tomorrow! Do I wait expectantly for His return? Can I mirror Josie’s words in my heart: “Thank you that God is coming tomorrow”…?

 

This morning, Josie found my Bible, opened it up, and started “reading.” She said, “I’m reading a story out of this Holy Bible” -  she emphasized the word “Holy” – “About God, and Jesus. And Jesus is coming! Hooray! Jesus is coming!”

 

It was incredibly sweet. I’m understanding more and more why Jesus said that unless we become like little children, we will not enter His kingdom. Adults can be too academic for the simple childlike joy resulting from simple childlike faith. When we first started talking about how we were going to celebrate Jesus coming as a baby, Josie’s eyes got just as big as if I had told her we were going to dunk her in chocolate and let her eat her way out.

 

It’s nice to have a small one around to set me straight occasionally. =)

(Maybe I can write a book called “the Prayer of Josie” and make a fortune…just kidding….how about “Tuesdays with Josie”….or even “Everything I needed to know in life I learned from Josie”…..ok enough geeky book references!) =)

 

 

 

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