By: Elisabeth Williams

Preparing the Way of the Lord

Each year, as Thanksgiving dishes are barely cleared and Black Friday sales flood our inboxes, the season of Advent quietly arrives. It doesn’t shout. It doesn’t demand. Rather, it simply invites: “Prepare the way of the Lord.”

For years in our family, this meant going to every holiday function, dragging the kids around the city to make memories while also losing sleep hoping that we checked off everything on their Christmas activity wish list. It was imperative to arrive early enough to get seats at their Christmas pageants, to complete the Jesse Tree, and read from scripture nightly. It was tiring, overwhelming, and left the kids and us cranky and too tired to celebrate the actual Octave of Christmas when it finally arrived.

More recently, Advent has become less about checking off traditions like parties, LEGO calendars, and candy-filled shoes and more about listening. What is Christ asking of me in the waiting? How can I make space in my home and in my heart for Him? And is it possible for me to offer that simple invitation to others as well?

An Invitation to Make Space

This year, I found part of my answer in a surprising place: the stack of Christmas cards on my kitchen counter. I’ve curated a long list of friends and family members over the years, trying to keep up with changed addresses, marriages and moves. Some friends we talk to weekly, some we can’t quite keep up with. Some remain within the church walls, others feel more comfortable on the periphery. No matter their current faith status, our love for them remains and our desire for them to know the truth lingers.

That’s why these are not just greeting cards, they are invitations. Tiny missionaries. Each one is a gentle work of sacred art, with Scripture and Nativity-themed artwork that speaks directly to the soul. We may get 5 minutes of an interaction when our friend in California opens our card and reads Scripture aloud looking at cute pictures of our family. But I know our God can use any amount of time to warm her heart and point back to His love for her, offering an invitation to watch and wait with him. 

Jesus’ Joyful Anticipation to Meet Us

That’s what Advent is all about. Preparing, watching, waiting. Not with stress, but with joy. Not with hurry, but with hope. Can you imagine the anticipation Jesus himself felt to meet us? To gaze into Mary’s eyes, to be held by the strength of a good man, his earthly father, Joseph? I imagine Jesus could not wait one more minute to be with his people on that holy night to share the joyful announcement of hope to a weary world.  

This year, our family has an extra special reason to share cards of hope. After losing our baby in early 2023, we were unsure if we would be able to welcome another child into our family. We get to share that very soon we will be bringing a baby boy home to light up the love and joy in our family. Everyone we have gotten to tell over the past few months has welcomed this miracle in their hearts before they have met this baby. We are asked to do the same in our hearts with the Christ child before we get to meet him again on Christmas day. 

Messages of hope in a weary world

These are the messages our simple cards can bring to those close and far. An invitation to welcome baby Jesus into our hearts before we can meet Him. May our eyes light up in anticipation as we contemplate the sacred images on these humble cards and let our Savior enter the place we have prepared for Him over the weeks of Advent. It may not look like a perfect blend of liturgical living, Martha Stewart decorating, or baked goods galore, but even He found a simple stable suitable because he could not wait to meet us. This Christmas, let us bring the joy of Jesus’ love to all our family and friends even if we can’t keep up with them daily. A spark of light in a weary world really can change everything!

About Elisabeth

Elisabeth Williams is a co-founder (along with her husband Scott) of Catholic Concepts, the parent company behind brands including Our Holy Home, Sock Religious, Parish Gear, and 4 Marks Printing. As faith-driven entrepreneurs and creative leaders, they are passionate about creating products that inspire Catholic families to live their call to the Great Commission. Together, they lead their family of brands with a shared commitment to evangelization through meaningful design and storytelling. 

Scott and Elisabeth live in Greenwood, Indiana, with their children, where they continue to build businesses rooted in faith, family, and mission.