How much time every day do we spend waiting? At the grocery store, in traffic, at stoplights, in the school pick-up line, on hold with Customer Service. Often we wait months for big events to happen — holidays, a wedding, vacation time.
Sometimes we spend that waiting time in tense impatience, so that even when the delay is over our mood is still dark and irritable. Other times we wait with eager anticipation, counting the days. Looking forward to an event with a light heart makes the occurrence even more joyous.
The Advent season is a time of waiting for the celebration of Christ’s coming to the world. This period can be spent in preparation for Jesus to come again into our lives. As we put everything in readiness for a wonderful celebration of Jesus’ birth, we can run about in a hysterical frenzy or we can focus on Christ and let him make this waiting time meaningful.
Rather than being distracted by all the activities and projects this time of year brings, let’s put the emphasis on the Christ Child.
As your whole being waits for the Lord, put your hope in his word, meet Jesus at the manger. It will be worth the wait.
I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope. Psalm 130:5 NIV