Are you getting ready for Christmas? Seems to me like many people started getting ready even earlier than usual this year. I saw tons of pictures on Facebook of Christmas trees up the week of Thanksgiving, instead of the day after or on into December. The stores started getting ready practically before Halloween. There is always a sort of mad rush getting ready for a big event. And then we all wait for the big day. It was the same way when I was waiting for my first son to be born. I have always know that my calling is to be a wife and mother. So waiting until the ripe old age of 30 seemed almost intolerable for me. I had painted a special mural in his room, gotten cute little sheets and blankets, found all the equipment needed for an infant, car seats, high chairs, swings, bouncy seats, onsies. Friends had had showers for us; we attended birthing classes and of course the many, many doc appointments in anticipation of this blessed child. The waiting was almost over. We were ready. I was really ready. So when the time came to go to the hospital the bags were packed, and we loaded in the car. We went first to the docs office, and by the time they we got there, I was even more ready. I was breathing like a crazy women, most likely scaring all the other various-stages-of-pregnant-women in the office. They wheeled me over to the hospital right next door because they agreed that I was ready to have this baby. My son was born at 10 pm that night. Finally, the wait was over. I held the most beautiful child in my arms. We spent a day and a half in the hospital getting to know one another. I had nurses coming and going, people bringing food, nothing to clean or do except take care of this precious package. When we got home I realized that the thing I had hoped for, longed for, dreamed about was finally here. I had my child. I held him on my lap and looked down on him sleeping. His sweet eyes were closed, and I remember stroking them gently, wanting him to wake up to meet our visitors. He didn't. Not then at least. A few hours later he woke up and started crying. This went on for a long time as I in my completely exhausted state walked him up and down the halls. I realized then that I was not really ready. Even though everything had been in place, I was not ready. It all worked out, like it usually does, but I realized, "I honestly have no idea what I am doing. This is a precious life, and I am completely responsible for him!" But in truth, I was as ready as I needed to be and could be. So here we are in our adoption. The long, long, long, did I say LONG, wait for our children feels like it is coming to an end. Soon our home will be even more full. Sarah and Isaiah's rooms are ready; their clothes are ready; the space is ready. But are we? We have been in this limbo state for so long. How different our lives will be. It is scary to think about. I can't even envision all of the different scenarios that we may face adding to our family in such a way. We have done everything we can, and we have to trust God for the rest. I trust that He will continue to lead us in this journey as He has led us all along. So actually, we are as ready as we can be. These children, already so loved, probably aren't ready either, but God's grace is sufficient. He will be with us all as we adjust and learn to know one another as a family. I can't stop thinking about the most important moment in our lives that we need to be ready for. Jesus' return. As we wait for Christmas, the celebration of the arrival of the Messiah, we also wait in anticipation of His return. What am I doing to be ready? What else can I do? How will He find me when He returns? Will I be ready? I know the answer to that one. Yes. I am ready. Are you ready? If Christ comes again for his believers, will you go with Him? I pray that you do. I pray that you open your heart to receive the greatest gift available to hum “ Then the Kingdom of Heaven will be like ten bridesmaids who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. The five who were foolish did not take enough olive oil for their lamps, but the other five were wise enough to take along extra oil. When the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep. “At midnight they were roused by the shout, ‘Look, the bridegroom is coming! Come out and meet him!’ “All the bridesmaids got up and prepared their lamps. Then the five foolish ones asked the others, ‘Please give us some of your oil because our lamps are going out.’ “But the others replied, ‘We don’t have enough for all of us. Go to a shop and buy some for yourselves.’ “But while they were gone to buy oil, the bridegroom came. Then those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was locked. Later, when the other five bridesmaids returned, they stood outside, calling, ‘Lord! Lord! Open the door for us!’ “But he called back, ‘Believe me, I don’t know you!’ an beings. The gift of life. Be ready; don't wait for the perfect timing. There is no such thing. Just as there is no amount of preparation that will allow us to be ready for our children, we simply must trust and be ready in our hearts. Just as wait for our children to finally be home with us, Jesus waits for each and every one of us to come into His arms, to be welcomed in His family. “So you, too, must keep watch! For you do not know the day or hour of my return. Matthew 1-13 |
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