Wednesday, December 13, 2023

December 13, 2023

He went with Mary, his fiancée, who was pregnant. While they were there, the time came for her to give birth. She gave birth to a son, her firstborn. She wrapped him in a blanket and laid him in a manger, because there was no room in the inn. Luke 2:5-7

Illustrated by Caroline Brown, age 6

The scripture from Luke says, “the time came.” Waiting for a particular time, event, or the arrival of someone is something we humans have difficulty with. Personally, when I was growing up, I could hardly wait for Christmas day to open the gifts under the tree. As a grade schooler I yearned for the end of the school year and the promise of summer. In high school I waited for Friday night games and Saturday night dates. After moving to college, I couldn’t wait for finals and the semester break. In the military I counted the days to the end of my hitch. Then something unexpected happened. I met Donna. When we married, waiting and “looking forward to a time” took on an entirely different perspective. Now “we waited.” We looked forward to marriage, we waited for births, for colic to end, for school to begin, for school to end, for vacations, for the economy to recover, for graduations. Then we waited for the kids to come home, to grow, to marry, for grandchildren.

In the bigger picture, in the arc of our lives as Christians, how do we deal with the delay of God’s kingdom? What do we believe? What do we do in the meantime? God knows we are not good at waiting. Perhaps that is why the Scriptures and Jesus’ teachings and parables repeatedly deal with that subject. I believe beyond the words that God’s message to us is simply not to grow weary, but to continue to be faithful and to live full lives. God is always with us. He may not arrive when we want Him to, but He will come when it is time. Just as he arrived in a stable, God will be right on time when He comes again.

Loving Father, forgive us for our impatience. Thank You for the gifts which You pour on us each day. As we prepare to celebrate Jesus’ birth and anticipate His return, please give us the wisdom and strength to be your patient, humble, courageous, and faithful servants in this time and this place.

Bill Ramsey