Anticipation

This is a busy time for us all, filled with shopping, wrapping, baking, cleaning. I reach a point when I want to call out in frustration, "Stop already! Give me a chance to catch up. Let me have some time to prepare myself along with preparing everything else." Well, I did have some of that precious time the other day and my conversation with God went something like this:

‘Lord, I keep seeking and the one I seek is You."

"Be patient, Connie. Wait just a little longer. I’m coming."

I was as a child sitting on a ledge, my feet swinging to and fro above the ground, filled with expectation and fidgeting with anticipation.

"I know you are" I told Him. "I try to be patient and I look for distractions to make the time go by more quickly. But I don’t want any distractions. I just want to sit here and wait. I don’t want to miss your coming."

God laughed. "You won’t miss it, Connie. You’re invited to my birthday party."

"Oh," I exclaimed excitedly, "but what shall I bring?"

"You don’t have bring anything but yourself. I’ll be giving to you."

I think we’re all a little like children at Christmas....filled with expectation and anticipation. Excitement hangs in the air as the day draws near. The house looks festive, the shopping’s done, the presents wrapped and placed beneath the tree...some are meant for me.

Yet, the gift I want... the one I seek... is not wrapped in gayly colored paper. It’s the gift God promised me. It’s the gift of Himself...the gift of love, of joy, of peace.

This is the one true gift we receive at His birthday party...the gift we share with one another.

May God bless you all! Merry Christmas and Happy Birthday, Jesus!