Second Sunday of Advent – December 10, 2023 – Evening

I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope.  Psalm 130:5

Illustrated by Clark Jaynes, age 8

When I was thinking of writing this Christmas piece, I couldn’t think of any one Christmas which really stood out for me.  I called my son, Cameron, to ask him if he had any one particular Christmas which was particularly memorable.  He said that the Christmas that we came home from Singapore really stood out because all three boys wanted a Super Nintendo for Christmas and we couldn’t buy it before we left Singapore because of the differences in electricity. Well, I thought, I won’t be writing about a Nintendo!! So much for that!! Then what he said next was so eye opening for me.  He said, “We didn’t anticipate it with anxiety or frustration.  We anticipated it with joy and imagination.  We made up stories of how we would play and the people we would invite to play with us.” That struck a chord with me.

How many times have we anticipated Christmas with anxiety and frustration?  We anticipate the birth of a baby who would change the entire world.  Do we get so caught up in the mundane that we don’t get the wonder of that birth?  Can we anticipate the re-birth of our own peace, love, and joy?  I will commit to slowing down, looking up, and finding my own peace.  I invite you to await the birth with me using joy and imagination.

Dear Heavenly Father, help me wait with patience, love, and joy.  Help me to let go of the worldly “anticipation” of Christmas and seek the wonder of the birth of a child.  Amen

Mrna Dibble

Pictured here with Actionnel Fleurisma