Rediscovering Childlike Peace
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” Matthew:5:9
I love Advent.
For a brief moment, the world slows with joyful anticipation. People greet you with a smile. Festive music replaces the harsh cacophony that typically blares over store loudspeakers. Warm twinkly lights adorn homes, transforming evening drives into cozy adventures.
But more than that, we wait. We wait and prepare ourselves for the birth of Christ our King. This “waiting,” however, isn’t passive. It’s a so-very-active waiting.
In some respects, waiting seems unpalatable. We are constantly “skipping to the good part.” But waiting gives us time to prepare, to ready our hearts, and to grow in virtue. It’s not a boring season, but one of anticipation and holy receptivity. Through waiting well, we cultivate a childlike disposition.
Dealing with the NOISE! NOISE! NOISE!
Yes, we probably associate children with impatience, but children know the joy of waiting. They know the excitement of waking up and realizing it’s their birthday month and they can excitedly countdown the days to the celebration. They are experts on the utter magical sensation of utilizing an Advent calendar, decorating their home, and joyfully anticipating the most glorious birthday of all: Christ’s. Their open hearts and readiness to receive is something we can all learn from. It’s an invitation to let go of being in control. What children realize, and we often forget, is that gifts are freely given. They are not earned.
At the start of almost every Advent, I am so eager. I am so thrilled to pour into the season, to celebrate days like St. Lucy’s Day and St. Nicholas’ Day. I am happy to build traditions with my family, and hopefully, grow in virtue.
And without fail, every Advent someone and something interrupts my plans. My calendar fills up too quickly, the moments I wanted to spend with my family feel threatened. My goals feel overlooked. And without warning, agitation enters the scene. Everything I wanted slips through my fingers, and I find myself morphing into the Grinch unable to rise above the “NOISE! NOISE! NOISE!”
But these daily trials are my pathway to sanctity. It’s letting go of control and learning to accept the interruptions, the challenges, and all the things that don’t go “my way.” It is in radical receptivity that we learn how to wait well. Waiting well teaches us childlike dependency on our Heavenly Father, which opens up our hearts not just to love, but also to peace. A receptive heart is a peaceful heart. It is not frustrated by daily inconveniences but understands them as an integral part of life.
A Receptive Heart is a Peaceful Heart
This Advent, while all those blessed family traditions are good and tangible ways to show and teach the love of Christ, don’t let your heart become closed when things don’t go according to plan or you are continuously interrupted. Instead, look to your Father with childlike trust. He knows your agitations and He cares for you. Give them to Him and watch His peace transform you. Your holiness is ultimately God’s work, you just have to say yes.
You are His daughter, and He is a good and loving Father. When we wait well, we recognize the love that surrounds us in the present moment. We become the little child who knows gifts are freely given, not earned. We expect the love of our Father and joyfully trust in Him, even if things are not as expected. It’s only when we first cling to Him, not our own whims, that we can be stewards of peace in our own homes and families.
Yes, a receptive heart is a peaceful heart, for through it, you are able to welcome Christ. You are no longer too busy or too annoyed. Whether life is going according to plan or things feel a bit out of control, you’re ready to receive Him. And His love can then overflow out of your own heart.
“Christ asks for a home in your soul, where he can be at rest with you, where he can talk easily to you, where you and he, alone together, can laugh and be silent and be delighted with one another.”
― Caryll Houselander
Ann Burns is the founder of The Feminine Project, an organization dedicated to restoring the joy of womanhood. She is a writer and speaker, and strives to uphold what is truly good and beautiful. Most of all, she is a wife and mother, and loves to share the joy in living each day well.