Advent or Christmas shopping season?

It wasn't totally on purpose. Our motivation was less than holy and altruistic. But it happened all the same. We are, for the most part, done our Christmas shopping. Before December. Pinch me; I think I'm dreaming.

My first thought upon realizing this feat was relief. The thought of not stalking people for a parking spot, hunting for those few precious gifts only to find it's out of stock (or it doesn't qualify for free shipping) almost seems surreal. It almost brings a joyful tear to my eye.

Then, pausing a second to realize Advent starts this Sunday, I discovered another benefit: I get to focus on the season of advent, not the Christmas shopping season. I have the unique opportunity to prepare my heart to celebrate the birth our our Saviour, to pray and reflect what that means for me in the hear and now, to read the Christmas story to to the kids a bit more and help them realize the historical and spiritual significance of Jesus' incarnation and birth, to anticipate His coming again.

I'm not saying I like seeing Christmas stuff in stores in October, but there is something to getting the gift buying out of the way early so we can focus on the point of advent—preparing for the Saviour's coming—instead of fighting crowds, emptying bank accounts and praying the post office gets our gifts to the right place in time.

Maybe next year it won't be by accident.