Advent Week 1: Prayers & Practices for Parents

Easy Advent Practices: Week 1

This year we’re sharing simple (and free!) ways to deepen your prayer as a parent in Advent: an activity to share with your children and a Scripture verse for you to pray later.

Light a candle when you get up in the morning, in the bathroom as you get ready or in the kitchen with your cup of coffee. Spend a moment in quiet prayer before the day’s work begins. “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (John 1:5).

Enjoy Christmas books together. Request these titles from the library instead of buying. Later let yourself enjoy a favorite read on your own. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1). 

Listen to Advent music in the car with your children, or ask older kids to help make a playlist to enjoy at home as a family. “O sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth” (Psalm 96:1).

This Week on Mothering Spirit

Katie’s essay speaks of the complicated joy of unexpected pregnancy after loss. 

Our 1st Advent Prayer for Overwhelmed Parents prays for hope in hard times.

Resources to keep reflecting

Katie’s essay mentions her child lost to miscarriage. If you or someone you love has experienced miscarriage, stillbirth, or infant loss, check out Grieving Together: A Couple’s Journey through Miscarriage.

Send a prayer for struggling with infertility or trying to conceive to a friend who might be struggling this holiday season.

A perfect poem for the start of Advent: Denise Levertov, “Annunciation.”

Here’s a free Advent guide for parents from Kayla Craig.

Thanks to our sponsors

This week’s writing is sponsored by Give Us This Day, a daily devotional to help you deepen your prayer life. Request a free sample of the print edition here or download the app here for a free 30-day trial to help you pray this Advent.

This Week’s Question for Readers

What complicated joy has parenthood brought you?

Share your thoughts below—or if you’ve got a longer story to share, email it to us at newsletter@motheringspirit.com for possible inclusion in a future newsletter (400 words max). Please note that newsletter submissions may be edited for length and clarity.

This post contains affiliate links.