Daily Advent Devotion for December 13th - Rev. Lisa Blackwood



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.



Comments