“Advent, it is made of the moments.”
~Ann Voskamp, The Greatest Gift
It was 4:30 in the morning. He was wide awake. He was in awe of the twinkling lights. I grabbed my camera and took advantage of the moment. A snapshot I wanted to capture in my mind and in my heart. Little fingers twirling ornaments. Eyes sparkling at the sight of the magical tree.
God whispered to my heart, “these are the moments of Advent.”
Suddenly I wasn’t sleepy. I pulled Jackson into my lap and we read a Christmas story. We cuddled on the couch and as his eyes grew heavy, I tucked him back 
into bed.
It’s been two challenging, rough, exhausting weeks. They have left me weary. Honestly, I’ve been mad at God. I’ve given Him the silent treatment.
Thankfully, “Jesus claims exactly these who are wandering and wondering and wounded and worn out as His.” (Ann Voskamp, The Greatest Gift)
As we near the end of Jackson’s long recovery from surgery, I’m starting to see things a little differently. Maybe we’ve been cooped up in this house for two weeks because God just wanted me to be still. This time of year is so crazed and stressful and being still is so very hard for me.
He wanted there to be time for extra snuggles and cuddles. Stillness so that He would have room in my heart. Moments to sit by the glow of the Christmas tree to soak in His presence.
And instead of looking at these two weeks as a blessing, I was burdened by them.
He wanted me to “look for the small glimpses of God-glory breaking in, breaking out, sprouting, shooting, unfurling, bearing fruit, making a Kingdom, remaking the world. Slow and still.” (Ann Voskamp, The Greatest Gift)
And those moments were all around me, but I chose to focus on the hard stuff instead of Him.
Thankfully God covers me with grace and “you can always breathe when you know all is grace” (Voskamp).