as you all I'm sure will agree, this time of the year can be tricky with sickness, expectations, family drama...I have definitely experienced all of the above, bringing with those disappointment, frustration, and giant failures! but at the same time, we are celebrating Advent. how....providential. that in this extra-busy and potentially complicated few weeks, we are instructed to remember one thing: do not lose hope, He is coming.
the past couple of years we've watched The Nativity Story movie with the kids sometime around Christmas. like all good stories, you learn something new or different each time you hear it. I was thinking about the shepherds, and how probably most of them were older, perhaps some of the oldest men from the nearest city. maybe being older and not able to use tools or work as long and hard as the younger men, they were sent to watch sheep day in and day out. and if they were older, then they have been waiting to be rescued the longest. they had read the prophecies over and over, perhaps memorized them, reciting them as they lay staring at the sky every night.
how gracious of our King, to not only humbly enter this world for the young and the old, but to announce Himself to ones who maybe waited the longest. maybe they had all but given up, content to die in the fields, unknown and uncared for by any one.
we have one great Hope. do not give up doing the work! day in and day out. our God Who Sees, praise Him.
next up...Easter....the purpose of Christmas. hallelujah.
