This past Sunday, on the first day of Advent, my pastor said, “Advent is as simple as ABC. It means Arrival, Beginning and Coming.” That little acronym got me thinking about Advent through the lens of motherhood and how arrivals, firsts and future, are all a part of God’s plan for us.

Now I am not comparing my children or yours to Jesus, nor am I comparing myself or you to Mary, but as I ponder the meaning of Advent mixed with the emotions of motherhood, some similarities definitely jump out at me.

We wait for the arrival of the children we carry in our womb, and then we wait for their arrival into adulthood.

We anticipate their firsts — first smile, first steps, first word, and the firsts become lasts and we anticipate those, too — last day of school, last game, last dance, and there’s no going back for a second chance.

The anticipation of what is to come is often met with mixed emotions, and the mixed emotions are met with the decision to trust God with the plan and purpose He has for our children or doubt His faithfulness and fear the worse.

Like Mary, we have a choice. Will we trust the Father’s plan? Will we partner with Him by praying for them? Or will follow fear which leads us to worry and doubt?

“But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.” (Luke 2:19, ESV)

Like Mary, let’s treasure the arrivals, beginning and coming, and the uncertainty they carry, by pondering them in our heart, and surrendering them to God.

Instead of allowing the uncertainty to cause anxiety, let’s rest is the safe and sacred space of God’s grace. He loves our children far more than we can fathom, and His plan will prevail in the beauty of His sovereignty.

Praise God for that first Christmas when He brought hope to the world in the gift of a baby boy.

Praise God that thirty-three years later that child, who became an adult, took His final breath so we could be born again.

Jesus, through His arrival, beginning and coming, infuses purpose into the first, future, and final moments of motherhood as we guide our kids from childhood to adulthood.

It may be as simple as ABC, but it’s as profound as anything could ever be!