Yesterday at Mass, I witnessed a moment that has stayed with me. A father sat in one pew with his little girl, who was about three years old. She was full of wiggles, curious, noisy, and completely alive in the way only toddlers can be. Her dad tried so hard to wrangle those wiggles, gently redirecting her, whispering reminders, doing everything he could to keep her close.
At one point, she slipped away from him and walked down the pew toward my husband and me; four tiny steps and then stretched out her arms. I picked her up without hesitation. Her dad smiled and let out a deep sigh, the kind that says, thank you. She calmed in my arms for a moment, then nestled back into her father’s embrace.
During the Sign of Peace, I leaned toward him and said, “Keep it up. You’re doing a great job.” His smile was full of gratitude.
That small exchange felt like Advent to me. This season calls us to patience, hope, and presence; qualities that father embodied in those few minutes. He didn’t give up. He didn’t lose his temper. He stayed steady, even when it was hard.
Today, we also celebrate the Immaculate Conception of Mary. She is our mother and our model, showing us what it means to say “yes” to God with trust and love. Like that father, Mary embraced her calling with quiet strength. She teaches us that holiness often looks like perseverance in the ordinary moments: holding on when life feels messy, loving when it’s inconvenient, and trusting that God is at work even when we can’t see the whole picture.
As we light the second candle of Advent, let’s remember that peace begins in these small acts of faithfulness. Whether you are wrangling wiggles or waiting for answers, keep going. You are doing a great job!