Waiting

“Blessed are all those who wait for him.” Isaiah 30:18 

When I was a little girl, I could hardly wait for Christmas to come. There would be presents, a family gathering at my grandparents, special food, pretty candles that spun around golden angels that rang tinkling bells, and of course there was always a guest appearance of Santa Claus. It was not until I grew older that Christmas Eve church, the Sunday School program, and the true meaning of Christmas took priority.  It seems today that Christmas comes way too fast. We are reminded regularly of only so many shopping days until Christmas, the special sales, and the beautiful gifts that can’t wait another day. We don’t want to wait for anything—not the lines at the check-out counters or the post office, the waitress who is slow taking or delivering our orders, the back-up of traffic trying to turn on a busy street, even a computer program at work that is slow coming up.   

Waiting is something we do not enjoy, yet the above scripture tells the Jewish people that they who wait are blessed. Imagine waiting over many, many years and generations for the Messiah to come, waiting in bondage in Egypt for a deliverer, waiting under Roman rule for the promised one, waiting for the prophecies of old to come true, setting a place at the table and leaving the front door open so that the Messiah could come in. In their shoes, would we get discouraged, turn our backs on tradition, or think that the Messiah would never come, or that it was all just a myth from olden times? We are so blessed that the Messiah has come in the form of a baby, a human being that we can relate to, and a promise of salvation to all those who believe. 

Prayer: Heavenly Father, teach us to wait patiently for your son’s birth on Christmas. Help us to slow down and listen closely to the Christmas story and marvel at the wondrous things that occurred. Help us recognize the prophecies of old. Help us enjoy the music, the crèche, our holiday traditions and the chance to show others our love. Amen. 

Nancy Hall (reprinted from 2016)