Embrace the Wait
By Rev. Lisa Blackwood
When I
think back to my earliest Christmas memories, I mostly remember the waiting…lots
of waiting. First, waiting for the day when we would go and cut a
Christmas tree. Once the day arrived, it began with glee from following my
father into the woods of some benevolent property owner to pick a tree. We
would cut it down, do some trimming, and then drag the tree to the car. Once
we arrived home with the tree, there was more waiting as my Dad insisted the
tree sit in the carport for the first night. Finally, the tree would go up,
ornaments would be brought down from the attic. My brothers and I would eagerly
search for our own ornaments. Meanwhile my Dad would string the lights and
we would wait and watch, directing him to arrange them so that there were no
spots without proper lighting. The tree was something to behold for sure!
And
then it was time to wait again: wait for visitors to come and celebrate in
those days just before Christmas, wait for presents to begin appearing under
the tree, wait for Christmas Day. But the most difficult wait was on
Christmas morning. Everyone sat around the breakfast table until my
grandfather had his second, or third, or, who knows, maybe fifth cup of coffee before we could see what
was in our stockings or under the tree. He savored every drop and seemed
to enjoy making us wait. Looking back, waiting was the best part!
Oh, it was hard then, but the anticipation…the real joy, was the dreaming of
what was to come, the longing for the “moment” when everyone would be content.
If we aren’t careful, we lose that joy
of anticipation and waiting. We learn much from waiting and listening and
praying (I prayed that I would get a real baton). Preparing our hearts,
anticipating the joy of the coming of the Christ child – how much better the
moment when we have prepared. Yes, some of it is tradition and we move
out of habit, but let us never be so tied to tradition that we don’t savor the
experience of waiting, wondering, and preparing.
As we continue through this season of
preparation let us not lose that feeling of expectant and joyful anticipation.
We must embrace the joy we truly feel as we are filled with a love that only
Christ can bring. No matter how many cups of coffee keep you waiting,
embrace the wait and know you are loved.
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