Day 4: The Advent Calendar

24Days of Joy!

A Countdown to Christmas

Each night before Christmas we get our wooden Advent calendar off the buffet in the dining room and set it in front of the kids. There is something about a box with 24 little doors that is just unavoidably appealing to little kids. The rule in our house is that the door is not opened and the treasure is not consumed until family devotions are finished. If one does not behave during devotions, one does not partake in the treat that follows. And we mean business, let me tell you. It's only day four and we have already had two crying, treatless children tucked into bed. We're hoping that the worst is behind us :-).

After we have our devotional time and sing together, one of the kids gets to find the little numbered door for the day, open it, and share what's inside.

It's such a small way to honor such a monumental thing; each night I pray that the true joy of the Christmas season is slowly sinking in to each one of their hearts.