How different Advent would be if approached through the eyes of a child?

from the Tidings blog, Southern California's Catholic Weekly

What does a trip to Disneyland have to do with Advent? I will explain how a princess, a mouse, a couple of pooches and a whole array of fantasy figures presented a new perspective on a season of prayer.

My granddaughter celebrated her fourth birthday with a trip to Disneyland. My daughter-in-law and I joined them along with one of my grandsons for the final day of their adventure. Mom and dad, grandma, auntie, a four-year-old girl and a three-year-old boy spent the day riding every type of boat and train and contraption the park had to offer and taking in the endless sights of clever creations that are Disneyland.

I confess that in my adult years, "the happiest place on earth" has not been my favorite place. It is expensive, crowded and exhausting. So when "Disneyland day" arrived and my grandson and I set off to meet everyone, my thoughts were mixed.

As we strolled through the park, however, it somehow looked different. The flowers and trees were so beautiful and well-manicured they appeared almost make-believe. There were Christmas decorations everywhere and music of the season wafted down Main Street.

Our first stop was the carousel and from there we went directly to "It's A Small World." The smiles and expressions of awe on the children's faces brought tears to my eyes. They were enchanted by the sights and sounds, and it must have been contagious because I began to notice the happy families and the beauty that Disneyland can offer. I was not tired, nor wishing we could leave. It was great fun to experience the rides and exhibits. Even Mickey's house seemed particularly clever.

What happened? I thought about it driving home with a tired but happy three-year-old in the back seat and came to the conclusion that seeing Disneyland through the eyes of young children changed the experience significantly.

Over the next few days, it dawned on me how different Advent would be if approached through the eyes of a child. Instead of focusing on the sometimes overwhelming tasks the season entails in anticipation of Christmas, we would spend more time delighting in the simple things that bring smiles to the faces of children. We would cut back on some of our tasks, choosing instead to spend time enjoying small moments and recognizing the goodness of God in our preparations.


Children do not look for perfection in a Christmas tree, a Christmas card or a gift. They get excited about the lights and ornaments on a tree, the snow domes or the musical elves and angels. They move the pieces of the nativity sets around and give them life. They are not burdened with worry.

"Unless you change and become like little children," says Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew, "you will never enter the kingdom of heaven." What better time to embrace this than Advent? Jesus is not telling us to act childishly, but rather to empty ourselves of ambition and worry. He is inviting us to trust in God.

As Christmas approaches, when tasks feel overwhelming, take a few minutes to think about and observe children. They go about their business trusting the celebration of the season will take place. As they look to us, perhaps we can look to God. It's a simple but wonderful example.