Sweet anticipation…

You will show me the path that leads to life;
    your presence fills me with joy
    and brings me pleasure forever. Psalm 16:11 GNT

Anticipation of pleasure is, in itself, a very considerable pleasure. David Hume      

When I was growing up, my parents, particularly my mom, tried to create a wonderful Christmas atmosphere and traditions to help all of our family to joyfully savor the Christmas season in anticipation of Christmas Eve and Day. Festive decorations, a nativity set, an outing to a Christmas tree farm to harvest a fresh cut Christmas tree, homemade cookies galore, friends visiting, Christmas music in the background, Christmas specials on TV.  Even as a child, I so looked forward to midnight mass on Christmas Eve; how I loved all the sights and sounds of the church service, then stepping out in the cold clear night to see countless stars against the night sky.

 Anticipation is such a sweet emotion and experience and a significant part of the holidays, but it’s easy to allow yourself to get so busy and caught up in the logistics of the actual preparations of the holiday that you can easily miss the joy of anticipation. For Christians, it’s much more than the love of family and friends and the beauty of the season, but the knowledge of Jesus love. He loves us so much that he was willing to leave God the Father,as well as the perfection of heaven, and come to earth as a baby…all to bring us salvation through his life, death, and resurrection.  My wish for you this Christmas is that you pause often to remember why we are doing all the holiday activities and savor the pleasure of the season as we anticipate the remembrance of our Savior coming to earth.

 Grab a cup of hot chocolate, put on “Joy to the World”, sit by the Christmas tree and enjoy the anticipation of Christmas Eve and Day.