Waiting for Jesus (and Santa)!

By Sister Marlene Miller, OSB

My family didn’t do a lot of Christmas decorating until after Advent. So when I entered the convent, where we don’t decorate much before Christmas either, I wasn’t surprised.

Advent was a time of anticipation. Anticipation of my own birthday, and anticipation of Christmas.

I always thought it was pretty special that my birthday was so close to Jesus’ birthday. Still do!

We had an Advent calendar that we opened one day at a time. No peeking. On Christmas Eve we could see the manger scene with Baby Jesus. Also we put up our tree and left it up through Epiphany. 

Christmas Eve meant waiting for Santa, too. Somehow Mother would arrange for him to come during dinner.

We never saw him, although we all rushed to the window when we heard the bells in the distance. It turned out he had already been and gone.

Seemed like we almost caught him every year. Sometimes there was evidence. One year he accidentally left his empty gift sack, and he always ate the cookies.

Santa always brought one gift that we wanted – like a doll house –  along with things we needed, like clothes and pajamas.

Advent is about preparing for Jesus’ birth and Christmas is the celebration of it.

But it’s also about family and fun. Santa is fun. I still believe in him.

I believe in the goodness and delight that the spirit of the tradition brings.