A Caregiver’s Advent: Waiting, Hoping, Holding On

Advent is often described as a season of anticipation—four quiet weeks of watching for the light, preparing our hearts, and remembering that hope is on its way. But for caregivers, Advent can feel less like a spiritual season and more like a mirror of everyday life.

Caregiving itself is an Advent.

It is waiting—for the doctor to call, for the next good day, for a moment of clarity, for a few hours of sleep.

It is hoping—hoping you’re doing the right thing, hoping for strength to get through the next milestone, hoping the love you give is enough.

It is holding on—holding onto faith when you feel stretched thin, holding onto patience when routines fall apart, holding onto the belief that your presence matters, even when it doesn’t feel like enough.

And yet, even within the exhaustion and the ache, something sacred is happening. Advent reminds us that God’s presence is not limited to peaceful sanctuaries or candlelit services. It’s found in the dim hallway where you steady your loved one’s steps. It’s found in the nighttime whispers of reassurance, in the tender repetition of familiar questions, in the quiet moments when you breathe and choose love again.

This year, as tinsel goes up and calendars fill, I invite you to experience Advent not as one more thing to do—but as a rhythm that can hold you.

Because while most people count down to Christmas with excitement, caregivers often experience December as a month of pressure. You may feel torn between traditions and responsibilities, longing for what once was while navigating what now is. It’s normal to feel the tension, the grief, the heaviness—and the hope.

The heart of Advent isn’t perfection.
It’s promise.

A promise that:

• • Hope still comes, even in the waiting. 
  • Light still shines, even when the way feels dim.
  • God is near, especially in the in-between.

So what does Advent look like for a caregiver?

Maybe it’s giving yourself permission to celebrate smaller.
Maybe it’s honoring memories instead of recreating them.
Maybe it’s letting go of what no longer fits and embracing what now gives life.
Maybe it’s simply lighting one candle and whispering, “Lord, be near.”

The truth is, caregiving Christmases don’t always look like Hallmark cards. They often look like compromise and courage. But they also hold incredible gifts—unexpected moments of connection, simple joys, flashes of gratitude, and the deep beauty of loving someone the way God loves us: fully, freely, and without condition.

You may not feel festive.
You may not feel prepared.
You may be running on fumes.

But friend, your Advent is holy.

Your daily acts of compassion are small reflections of the love we celebrate at Christmas—love that comes close, love that stays, love that enters the mess with tenderness.

So this December, instead of striving for more, perhaps Advent is inviting you to receive more:

More rest.
More gentleness with yourself.
More room to breathe.
More reminders that God’s hope doesn’t depend on your strength.
More assurance that you are held as you hold others.

Romans 15:13 says, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

Overflowing hope doesn’t mean overflowing energy.
Overflowing hope doesn’t mean overflowing time.
Overflowing hope simply means this:

God fills what you cannot.
He sustains where you’re weary.
He strengthens what feels fragile.
And He pours hope into places you thought were empty.

This is the heart of a caregiver’s Advent—
not just waiting for Christ to come, but remembering that He already has…
and He comes again, each day, into the very places you need Him most.

So as you move through this season—through your lists, your responsibilities, your tender memories, and your quiet prayers—may you feel His nearness. May His peace guard your heart. And may His hope meet you right where you are.

You are doing holy work.
You are not carrying it alone.
And light is still coming—
one day, one breath, one candle at a time.

Merry Christmas, dear friend. And may the God of hope fill you deeply as you wait, hope, and hold on.

7 Practical Tips for a More Peaceful December

1. Simplify traditions – Choose one or two meaningful practices instead of trying to do it all.
2. Set gentle expectations – Communicate with family early about what you realistically can (and cannot) do.
3. Create small moments of beauty – A candle lit during evening care, soft music, or a cup of tea can shift the atmosphere.
4. Plan for your energy, not the calendar – Build in rest before you crash.
5. Ask for holiday-specific help – Gift-wrapping, grocery pickup, decorating—let others bless you.
6. Honor your emotions – Joy and grief often sit side-by-side in December. Both belong.
7. Give a simple, meaningful gift – Consider gifting “presence” over presents. A voice memo, written memory, or blessing shared with a loved one can be more life-giving than anything wrapped.

Advent is a season of waiting, hoping, and holding on to the light.
For caregivers, that waiting can feel deep and stretching—so I created something to walk beside you.

The Caregiver Advent Calendar offers daily moments of Scripture, reflection, and gentle care for your spirit.
It’s simple, doable, and made for real life—not perfect days.

Let it accompany you this Christmas season.

Rayna Neises understands the joys and challenges that come from a season of caring. She helped care for both of her parents during their separate battles with Alzheimer’s over a thirty-year span. She is able to look back on those days now with no regrets – and she wishes the same for every woman caring for aging parents.

To help others through this challenging season of life, Rayna has written No Regrets: Hope for Your Caregiving Season, a book filled with her own heart-warming stories and practical suggestions for journeying through a caregiving season. She is also the author of Hope for a Caring Heart Journal- a 90 day journey of prayer, reflection and gratitude. Rayna is an ICF Associate Certified Coach with certifications in both Life and Leadership Coaching from the Professional Christian Coaching Institute.

She is prepared to help you through your own season of caring. Learn more at ASeasonOfCaring.com and connect with Rayna on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

Read other articles by Rayna