Silent night, holy night; all is calm, all is bright.

Is it just me, or is this time of year the furthest from silent and calm as can be? We are decorating, baking, planning, buying, wrapping, and putting so much time, effort, and love into making the Advent and Christmas season magical for our families and loved ones. Yet in the midst of this busy time, we can’t forget the true purpose of our preparations. 

As we prepare our homes this Advent, we must put just as much effort into preparing our hearts. It seems clear that silence is needed during these four weeks of Advent, but how can we find it?

Silence is a rare occurrence in my current state of life. With several young children, there just isn’t a quiet moment in the day. As soon as I take a moment to sit down, there is immediately a little one (or two, or three) crawling into my lap with a book, looking for a snuggle from mom. Maybe you can relate. If you are in a similar state of life, you know that silence doesn’t just happen—it needs to be intentionally sought out.

I intend to seek silence this Advent—even if it’s just a few minutes here and there. My soul needs to experience God’s voice, which is difficult to hear over the beautifully chaotic symphony of family life. I know He has things to reveal to me if only I find the space to listen.

So over the next few weeks, I’m going to wake up a little earlier to start my day in darkness and silence. I’ll schedule in time for Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. I’ll sometimes choose to turn off the Advent music and Christmas movies in favor of sitting quietly with God by the light of the Christmas tree.

But maybe finding silence isn’t the problem for you—maybe it’s just using the opportunities you’ve been given to spend quality time in conversation with God. This Advent, find ways to step back and seek out Christ. Fight the urge to rush towards the joy of Christmas and instead quiet yourself, embracing the journey of Advent.

It can be difficult to quiet our minds and hearts when we feel the tug of to-do lists and the excitement of busy schedules. But let’s not forget how Jesus entered the world—in silence, darkness; not in grandeur, and not with a crowd to greet Him but in humility and simplicity. I hope to carve out just the same place in my heart to welcome Him at Christmas. A place of quiet, love, humility, and generosity.

Ultimately, we are preparing our hearts to receive Christ not just at Christmas but at the end of our lives. With God’s grace, may we be ready to “sleep in heavenly peace.”