Scripture
I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near—a star shall come out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel; it shall crush the borderlands of Moab, and the territory of all the Shethites.
— Numbers 24:17
Reflection
Waiting for something—especially during Advent—can be really hard. The anticipation of what is to come can be overwhelming, and sometimes makes it hard to be on our best behavior. If there is a certain behavior I want one of my children to stop, I have found the best way to do it is to redirect his or her attention to something else. It is amazing how quickly they forget about what was capturing their attention before.
Talk Together
What was the hardest thing you ever had to wait for?
Prayer
Lord, be with us as we await your birth. Help us find peace in our waiting.
Activity
Cut up strips of brown and yellow paper. Each day have everyone in the family write down one good deed that they did that day. Lay the strips in your manger scene to prepare the crib for Jesus’ birth.