A Sense of Urgency

Would you believe that one of my sisters is already wrapping presents, has Christmas candy made and is cleaning house?!

It’s only the first week in December.

I was amazed.

Why the rush? What’s her hurry?

It’s actually quite understandable. You see, she has a grand baby coming.  A sweet precious new one due to arrive soon – right in the midst of the Christmas season.

And she wants to be ready. She wants to have time to meet that little one, hold her, admire her, and fall in love. She wants to be available to help her daughter in whatever way she can.

She has a sense of urgency.

A baby is coming.

I was struck by the parallel of the first Christmas.

Imagine the sense of urgency Joseph felt as they entered Bethlehem, his young wife experienced the pains of labor.

Imagine the sense of urgency Mary felt as the pains increased and her husband could find no room for them.

A baby was coming.

Can’t you see Joseph frantically making a bed of straw, cleaning out the manger, in anticipation of the imminent arrival.

A baby was coming.

They had to prepare.

A baby was coming.

Are you ready?

I’m not taking about buying gifts, making cookies and decorating a tree – although those are wonderful. But if you take all those warm and merry accents of our Christmas season away – you are left with one thing.

A baby.

Is your heart ready?

“How silently, how silently, the wondrous gift is given,
so God imparts to human hearts, the blessings of his heaven
No ear may hear his coming, but in this world of sin,
where meek souls will receive him still, the dear Christ enters in.”