THE FIRST SUNDAY IN ADVENT - WAITING

A good service at church today with great songs, a good sermon and lots to think about relating to waiting and patience.  

James showed me his donkey, complete with fluffy tail, with Mary sitting on its back and with Baby Jesus in her tummy - personally I can’t think of anything worse than riding on a donkey whilst pregnant, but Mary did.

Like many today, I’m not the most patient of people, but we can’t hurry Christmas, we have to wait - and that is what Advent is all about - waiting.

So what are we waiting for or should that be WHO are we waiting for?

What are we looking forward to?  Is this a time of quiet anticipation or are we caught up in the material trappings of Christmas that we see all around us?

Advent means the coming of something…..and lasts for four weeks - we have all that time to wait before we can celebrate the birth of Jesus.

Advent is the season of change - waiting changes us and teaches us to be patient - it also reminds us that life is a gift and we can either wait with a willing heart, and enjoy the present moment or grumble and grouse about how long we have had to wait and miss out on the blessings that we might have received whilst waiting.

Advent is the season of preparation - and we can either prepare ourselves whilst waiting or just let the time go by and be lost forever.  One thing is certain though - this waiting time is not about us, although we are the ones doing the waiting and can learn so much during this time - it’s about the one we are waiting for.

Advent is the season of looking forward - to the future - and to what God has planned for us.  We are living in exciting times!

Open our eyes, 
     while we wait to see you.
Open our ears,
     while we wait to hear you.
Open our hearts
     while we wait to receive you.
Help us to wait with patience, 
     hope, peace and love.
We will wait for you, Lord.
© Maureen Iles