Psychologists tell us that it takes twenty-one days to form a new habit. If we are trying to change something in our lives, it will take time, effort, and patience.
Today is 1st December, the day when Advent calendars in all their wonderful guises make their appearance. Traditionally made to help people ‘count down’ to Christmas and to anticipate the wonder of the celebration, many calendars now include treats behind cardboard windows. The most common treats are small chocolates, but these days Advent calendars can contain toys, books, perfume, bath bombs or alcohol. (They’re clearly not all for children!) What is common to all these calendars is the principle of patience, the demands of daily discipline, for with an Advent calendar, you only open one door per day.
This daily discipline is good for the soul. The temptation is to rush ahead, to open several doors at once on Day 1! But life is about daily discipline in order to achieve long-term pleasure and to instil good habits. Delights that involve waiting, anticipation, expectation and delay are often much sweeter than the momentary gratification from the immediate.
For children in particular, waiting is hard. They see the finished picture and want to arrive at that point now. By learning the drudgery of self-discipline (there is little that is glamorous or exciting about waiting!), they reap rewards in other areas of life. Self-discipline is crucial to our spiritual growth.
So enjoy the daily rewards from Advent calendars, but use this time also to re-read the Christmas story in all its fulness, and learn the art of enjoying life one day at a time, as God intended.