“Look, the virgin shall become pregnant and give birth to a son,
and they shall name him Emmanuel, which means, ‘God is with us.’” – Matthew 1:23 (NRSVUE)
Take a moment. Breathe. Sit in stillness.
Okay, you are almost there. Tomorrow is Christmas Eve, then Christmas Day. All the planning and preparation and running around is nearly through. We are almost to the big days.
In the midst of these busy times, it is worth pausing for a few moments to sit in expectation. It is a time to remember the longing for God, for the time when God will be all in all and our striving against the tide of expectations coming at us is over. A time when God’s grace washes over us and we know in Christ that we are enough, we are loved, we are healed. In short, we are saved. This is the waiting and hoping aspect of Advent. Hold to it today for a moment.
Then, this week, make sure to take time to celebrate the birth of that hope. Make sure to rejoice in Jesus, God made flesh, come to be with us, and returning again to bring that grace that we so long for. In the midst of making sure to get to worship, see family, unwrap gifts, share in a big meal, and all of the other traditions that fill the Christmas holiday, that you take a moment to rejoice.
Sit in stillness, sit in thankfulness. Recognize all that it has taken out of you to make it through this year. Give thanks for the God who is with you through it all. Give thanks for the God who promises you are more than the things you have crossed off your to-do list. Give thanks that the God who comes to us as a baby is the God who loves us unconditionally. Take that moment of worship.
Then go back to the festivities, renewed in your joy because you will have re-centered on why we celebrate in these days.
