The Waiting...

“I heard the bells on Christmas Day

Their old familiar carols play

And wild and sweet the words repeat 

Of peace on earth, good will to men.

 And in despair I bowed my head

“There is no peace on earth,” I said,

“For hate is strong and mocks the song

Of peace on earth, good will to men.” 

Advent -  a time of waiting.  A concept that is becoming more and more difficult to bear by a culture who is used to being gratified quickly, immediately, and concretely. 

Advent as an almost empty nester tends to make me want to jump right to the joy of Christmas and forget the pain of Advent.  Somehow the holidays increase the awareness of our pain doesn’t it?  The loss of loved ones, the missing of my children as they have moved out of my house, good friends that have moved away…

My girls and besties who have moved away

C'mon you all did this to your children and you know it...

My girls and niece being fun and goofy - yep, I miss it

It’s different for all of us isn’t it?  The pain of Advent?  Many often enter the season of Advent confused and depressed.  The joy of the holidays lost.   – I mean it began long ago, the suffering through Advent…

               I’m pretty sure John the Baptist didn’t envision his announcement of a Savior ending up with himself in prison and without his head…

               

And what about Joseph and Mary?  What they must have

endured waiting on the Savior’s arrival, – mockery from their friends and family, a lengthy journey with a walking stick and a donkey during Mary’s ninth month of pregnancy (can you even imagine?), and then upon their arrival – nowhere to stay – and the perfect timing of Mary going into labor while they were homeless…

              

…Even God himself, knowing the sacrifice, knowing what would happen as He sent His son on a suicide mission…

               But we don’t really want to think about all that.  Let’s skip right over Advent to the joy of Christmas!  For some, Advent is just too hard to face – the lack of money, the loss of loved ones, health issues, the fast paced hustle and bustle…

               I miss my kids during Advent more than any other time.  I could wallow in my lonliness – like God could have wallowed in the loss of His Son…like we could lose our peace, our minds, our compassion in all the frenzy that has become the norm for this time of year...

              

               Or...we can look at it this way – we can focus on the fact that the coming of Christ at Christmas signals the eventual death of Him on our behalf – and while we do remember His incredible sacrifice, we must think further – that was not the end – and that is why God was not devastated at offering him for us.   Advent also reminds us of the second coming of Christ.  That Jesus defeated death on the cross and that He will come again to make things right.  His coming injects hope in death and brings purpose to our suffering – to our pain. 

And that is why I embrace the season of Advent.  It is a time to rest

in the coming of Christ.  To remember those lost to us and the blessing they brought to us; to help those who are in need and suffering, to bring hope to the hopeless and to enjoy mankind and those we love so dearly. 

That’s why Henry Wadsworth Longfellow finished his famous poem that I sighted at the top of this blog “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day” by penning these words, even in the midst of his own grieving…

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:

“God is not dead, nor doth he sleep;

The wrong shall fail, the right prevail,

With peace on earth, good will to men.” 

Till, ringing singing, on its way,

The world revolved from night to day,

A voice a chime, a chant sublime,

Of peace on earth, good will to men!

"Of peace on earth, good will to men".  Maybe we can all just create a small pocket of peace for ourselves and for someone else this Christmas - a tiny gesture, a caring hand, a warm smile - you would be surprised what that can do...

From my family to yours...

Merry Christmas