Two-and-a-half-year-old
Joelle was not ready to end our family Christmas celebration. Still hopeful there might be more presents
somewhere, she pulled out the now-empty Christmas stockings, sat down, and put
them on her feet. Delighted with our
laughter, she walked about the living room holding them up like hip waders.
This is not
the first time we have celebrated Christmas early to accommodate travel
schedules. Nor will it be the last. And I do not mind at all. In fact, there are definite benefits to
celebrating early. Just at the time when
most people are frantically shopping, decorating, and baking for the holidays, I
am peacefully done. I get to soak up the
wonder of the Advent season without the rush and hurry.
There is
much to anticipate even after all the presents have been opened. Advent is the season of joyful expectation as
we remember the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and look forward to
His return. I still remember the first
time I heard about the Second Coming of Christ.
(Maybe I had not been paying attention at church as a child and as a
young teen, or maybe it was simply not talked about.) I was surprised and thought to myself,
“Wow! He’s coming back!”
No matter
your particular beliefs about how the time leading up to Christ’s return will
play out, contemplating the certainty of that Second Coming should spur you on
with joy. No matter the trials and
tribulations ahead, we know the outcome:
God wins. What better reason to
celebrate, to share the gospel freely, to give generously, to serve
wholeheartedly. We probably won’t put on
Christmas stockings like Joelle, but we can take Paul’s words to heart: “Put on your shoes so that you are ready to
spread the Good News that gives peace”
(Ephesians 6:15, God’s Word
Translation).
