Waiting Patiently

Our advent candles are in the kitchen.
They rest in a beautiful wood wreath carved with God’s story from Genesis to Revelation.
I purchased it years ago when I had my first child.
We have been lighting the candles each week until Christmas for years.

When my children were small, we did quite a few things to prepare for Christmas.
Besides the advent wreath, lit at dinnertime, we hung a Scripture advent calendar.
Each day the children took turns opening a door, which corresponded to the day.
The readers in the family would read the verse to begin our day.

We had a few fun countdowns as well.
A chocolate filled advent calendar, which was opened each day to reveal a piece of candy.
Each child got their own chocolate advent calendar for their rooms.
A toy company named Playmobile had their own Christmas countdown.

Each year a different Christmas scene was depicted.
Every day a door was opened to reveal a toy that completed the scene.
It might be Santa’s workshop or a cozy mountain cabin.
It was so much fun for them to guess what the finished scene would be.

My son, who is now in law school, took it upon himself to make a chart.
He hung the chart on the refrigerator.
Each day listed which person would open which door, making sure everyone got a turn.
They all relied on that chart.

Around Thanksgiving, they would write a number on a card and put it in a bowl.
They each picked a number which determined who opened what on which day.
I never thought the system would catch on, but it did!
How I wish I had saved one of those charts so I could give it to him now.

The countdown to Christmas day was important.
However, preparation of our hearts was crucial.
Christmas is about Christ and nothing can overshadow that fact.
It takes a lot of effort on the part of a parent to focus their children on the real meaning.

Waiting.
Anticipation.
We are not good at either.

Advent is the time of waiting and anticipation of Christ’s birth.
The word advent comes from the Latin word adventus, which means “coming”.
Jesus who came as a baby in the manger.
Jesus who will come again.

Advent celebrates the season of now and not yet.

Now and not yet is a hard concept to grasp.
Our culture is a culture of now; a culture of instant everything.
You’re worth it. You deserve it.
We don’t like to wait.

The not yet part of the Kingdom requires waiting.
Waiting for Jesus to return.
Preparing our hearts for Him yet again.
Knowing the full story in the NOW and wanting to see it to completion in the NOT YET.

There are no charts.
There are no advent calendars to open.
There IS Scripture to read each day.
There is a scene that is waiting to be completed in heaven with our Lord.

Come, Thou long expected Jesus
Born to set Thy people free;
From our fears and sins release us,
Let us find our rest in Thee.
Israel’s Strength and Consolation,
Hope of all the earth Thou art;
Dear Desire of every nation,
Joy of every longing heart.