Maybe I just never noticed it before, but clever and creative advent calendars seem to be everywhere. There are popcorn advent calendars with cute little (much too little if you ask me) bags of gourmet flavored popcorn tucked in each day’s space. Another new on me is the bath bomb advent calendar. How about the jerky advent calendar with 25 exotic flavors? Everything from orange habanero to root beer jerky.
My husband saw one early in the Christmas shopping season that caught his eye. It’s the Bonne Maman calendar with 25 one ounce jars of their tasty jams and honeys tucked inside. He suggested we get it for my mom and I had to agree. My mom rarely says anything about it, but I know Christmas has never been the same since she lost my dad 14 years ago. One of their favorite times was morning, chatting over a cup (or two or three) of coffee with toast and jam. This time of year they were both busy making and shopping for Christmas gifts so there was lots to talk about.
This gift is mostly a gift for her to enjoy and feel loved every morning when she gets up for that first cup of coffee, but it’s also a nod to a memory I know she revisits often this time of year. I’m grateful my husband thought of it. Sometimes knowing that others remember and share your heartache helps ease it. I’d encourage you to think about the widows in your world this time of year. It’s a difficult time, but also a time when small gifts can mean more than ever.
“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” Psalm 147:3