Waiting During Advent

I, Sailko [GFDL or CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons

By this time, we know that Baby Jesus is on his way!

I thought about Advent … which means to wait. To prepare for the best gift, it’s in the waiting that we arise, that we grow to believe. When I first got pregnant, with each of my babies, I knew that he or she was a Paul, Scott, Mark, Danika, Katherine, or a Beth, but he or she became more real in my sensory world when I felt the first flutter, when my abdomen rounded out.

It’s in the waiting that we grow to believe. By @SusanSwims8Click To Tweet

We must become like little children to recognize Him as Messiah, in the same way that John the Baptist was the first to recognize Jesus, while a baby himself within the womb of St. Elizabeth. He leapt!

And a little child shall lead them…

We wait…

It makes the birthday all the sweeter.

The quiet of the womb.

It is in silence that we hear.

Oh Mary, my mother.

I hide within your womb.

Within the waters, I tread, safe, warm, staying close to the beat of your Immaculate Heart,

For your heart beats in synch with the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

Could this have been my first waters of baptism?

O Child Jesus – unite your Church, unite your children.

Lead us O child Jesus as One in the Body of Christ.

I picture Mary riding on the donkey with Joseph leading the animal with a simple harness, the rope in his hand.

Mary doesn’t complain like I would. I’d probably say something like, “Could we not take a smoother path, Joseph? Could you sidestep that boulder up ahead?”

There is so much symbolism here.

The road to Bethlehem was certainly the narrow road that Jesus told us later to strive on. There is only one way to get to the finish line. The quickest way? That’s the thing. There is no quick way. No easy way.

But Grace is worth the journey we trod.

Grace is worth the wait.

From the Word, about how the Word Incarnate shall lead us:

Isaiah 9:6: For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us;

And the government will rest on His shoulders;

And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. (NASB)

And later, when we grow, here are words about waiting. After all, this is how we become mature and grow up. It is in the waiting.

Isaiah 40:31: Yet those who wait for the Lord

Will gain new strength;

They will mount up with wings like eagles,

They will run and not get tired,

They will walk and not become weary. (NASB)

Copyright 2016 Susan Anderson

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