Holy Expecting

'Tis the season to be expectant.  Children are expectant and anxious. 

Parents are expecting long gift

lists and limited funds.  Grandparents are expecting small pleasures of seeing smiles and giggles.  A few among us are literally expecting babies.  I have a sweet friend expecting a spring baby after the hardship of waiting.  This couple is filled with joy, expectant of the gift they will soon receive.  

Truly Christmas is the celebration of waiting in expectation, the expectation of a Savior.  We celebrate a Savior entering this world.  He was expected for generations, he was expected as a warrior, as a conqueror, as one ready to do battle and defeat the opposition.  Yet he came most unexpectedly.  He came as a most vulnerable baby.  How could anyone understand or accept this?  How can we?

We seem to still be looking for a conqueror of all that is wrong in our world.  Someone who can give us love, and leadership, and hope.  The packages under the tree don't seem to hold all we hope.  The family gatherings may have become more of a duty than joy of seeing loved ones. Is there hope of a new gift? "I'll be glad when it's over," mumble many.  We may have lost the real hope of a Savior.

 

But today, is a new day.  It is a day for hope.  And yes, perhaps, this season has become something way outside the birth of a Savior.  But today is a day I can choose to turn that around, at least inside of me.  Could the answer be as simple as a baby being born, not into the world but, into each of us?  Can a Savior be born into the utmost, private places of our heart and minds?  Is that where the expectation will finally be fulfilled?

My greatest expectation is in a Savior who will love my unloveliness, one who will light my darkness, one who will lead me to green pastures, one who will restore my broken heart or expectations.  That Savior is being born today.  Expecting and accepting Him is always a choice.  The humble love of God never pushes but is always present.

🎵♪Come, thou long expected Jesus,

born to set thy people free;

from our fears and sins release us,

let us find our rest in thee.

Israel's strength and consolation,

hope of all the earth thou art;

dear desire of every nation,

joy of every longing heart.

Born thy people to deliver,

born a child and yet a King,

born to reign in us forever,

now thy gracious kingdom bring.

By thine own eternal spirit

rule in all our hearts alone;

by thine all sufficient merit,

raise us to thy glorious throne.

by Charles Wesley