This of all nights is my very favorite night of the year.
I've been thinking about it all day long!!! Just waiting for tonight. The last minutes of preparation. The last few hours of the day. And as they slowly pass, my heart races more and more!!
There are Christmas Eves that stand out in my mind from my childhood. The year I was about 4 when we stood on the doorstep and watched the snow fall. The year I lived in an area settled predominantly by Eastern Europeans when we lit a candle to remember those an ocean away who felt like our brothers and neighbors. But more than those instances, what spoke to me was anticipation.
My parents did not promote Santa like some parents. But I still had a feeling he was out there somewhere and real!! I read a book once that talked about a time that was a moment after midnight that was magical. I figured that this must be when Santa came. And in the morning...to see all my parents had done in the night to transform our home was simply magical. I spent many nights, even after I outgrew Santa, waiting and staring out at the cold night sky twinkling with stars.
I awaited with longing...
I awaited with anticipation...
I awaited the events that tomorrow would hold...
And as I have grown older, my anticipation has grown. But I wait for something different. It isn't the food, the gifts, or the memories. Don't get me wrong....I love that part. I am a STRONG traditionalist and I have things I do every year. I do them because they speak to me and remind me of family I am far from. But what I eat, give or get is no longer the focus of my attention. It is because I have learned to identify so closely with those who awaited the Messiah who was promised. I wonder how they would feel if only they knew on that night so long ago, that that very night would be the last night of their longing. Finally, their prayers would be answered!! It thrills me just to even think about it. No....tomorrow isn't the actual birthday of Jesus. But I can celebrate it as if it were. And there is a kind of excitement in my heart thinking that tomorrow is the day. And as I consider it, I have a thrill inside thinking about what it must have been like that day. Tomorrow is the day I can celebrate that my Savior arrived...He came as a tiny baby, lowly and seemingly unimportant, to take my sins upon himself and to pay the ransom for my soul. It is because of that night so long ago on a random insignificant day, that I am now free and considered blameless and He calls me His beloved.
I think that's something worth waiting for!!!
Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus
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.
Born Thy people to deliver,
Born a child and yet a King,
Born to reign in us forever,
Now Thy gracious kingdom bring.
By Thine own eternal Spirit
Rule in all our hearts alone;
By Thine all sufficient merit,
Raise us to Thy glorious throne.
