Anticipation of Joy

It is hard to wait, especially when you are little. When our boys were young we had an advent calendar for them. They could open a new door each day to help count down the days until Christmas. We also had a hanging with buttons tied to a ribbon with yarn. They could remove a button every day beginning December first and when they were gone, it was Christmas Day. Another year my mother prepared little packages given on the days before Christmas to make the waiting a little easier for the boys.

Even as adults, we often find our expectations inflating with each approaching day. We hope for the perfect Christmas and often rush around trying to do more: bake more, send more Christmas cards, buy more gifts, clean more throughly... so everything will be just right when the anticipated day arrives.

Instead of trying to make all the "things" better, we can fill our hearts with joy by anticipating the arrival of our Savior! That is true joy. As with the arrival of any baby, there is such overwhelming joy! I can't even imagine the joy of Mary as she looked upon her Holy baby, the Son of God, in physical form.

""Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you." Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of Most High," (Luke 1:28-32a NIV).

I wonder if the angel's words came back to Mary as she rested, after giving birth to the Kingly Child. Anticipation of the life of a Savior was before her. 

The author of Hebrews described Jesus as the, "Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven," (Hebrews 1:3 NIV).

Lord God, we bow down in humble adoration of Your Son Jesus. We know the story of His life, yet we enjoy remembering the way you brought Jesus into the world. We pause to anticipate the joy of the Coming Savior. Thank You, God, for sending Your Only Son to bring Salvation to a sinful world. We pray in the Holy Name of Jesus, Amen.