Waiting, Anticipating, Preparing
Day 340 of Photo Inspirations — Waiting, Anticipating, Preparing
The word “nesting” has frequently been on my mind over the last several days. “Nesting” is that word used when a pregnant woman is close to that day when her baby will arrive. She wakes up one morning feeling energetic and wanting to clean and organize her entire house. It’s that overwhelming desire to get her home ready for her new baby. Often, that urge is from boredom or frustration from still being pregnant, as well as knowing that the baby’s care is going to take lots of time and energy, and she wants everything to be ready before the baby arrives. Excitement and anticipation of that new bundle of joy, and the desire to have everything just right.
In this beautiful season of Advent, I’ve been “nesting” — anticipating the birth-day of Christ. Here’s what that “nesting” looks like to me. It’s those times of sweet reflection, peace and quiet, and really pondering this miraculous birth. It’s quite easy for me to be in that place…..naturally. As I was sitting in front of my fireplace and just meditating about the message I was going to give at an Advent by Candlelight, I started pondering about this time many years ago, and what it was like for me in anticipation of my little girl about to be born. Back then, however, we didn’t know that she would be a girl or boy. We were prepared, either way. If a boy, he’d be named Robert Anthony. But if a little girl, she’d be named Staci Michelle — which means “resurrection life” and “close to God”. I was thinking about how I was getting her nursery ready. All the gifts of clothes, nighties, and underclothes were washed and folded in the little dresser drawers. The hanging diaper holder was filled and all the little items were all organized for her soon arrival. I would open those drawers and smell that sweet aroma of “baby”. My house was clean. My bags, with her little outfit, was packed and ready to go. The plans were all made for taking her big brother to Granny & Papa’s to stay until we came home with the new baby. Everything was ready in preparation for her debut. The excitement was building.
Friday, I sent my daughter this little note:
“Hi Sweet Girl. I know you’re in a whirlwind of busy. But I’m nesting. I’m not only speaking tonight at an Advent By Candlelight, but I’m thinking about this day 46 years ago when I was just a few days away from seeing my little baby girl for the first time. Though I didn’t know you would be a girl, I certainly was in such a sweet nesting mode, so excited and waiting for you to be here. I’m already celebrating you and want you to know how much I love you today. You are a mighty woman of God and I know God’s looking out for you. Love you so much. Happy early birthday!”
This beautiful season of Advent is about WAITING, preparing our hearts and having our hearts transformed in anticipation of Christ’s birthday! Oh, we know He already abides in us, but taking this sweet season to refresh and revive our relationship with Him seems like the best thing we can do to celebrate His coming. In this “nesting” time, we can sweep out all the clutter and get rid of all the excess stuff that’s been accumulating in our hearts. Of course we know He is no longer the baby in the manger but He is our risen Lord and King, so this celebration is for royalty.
At my house, we love to celebrate birthdays. We make a big deal of it. And getting ready to celebrate the birthday of Christ, is also about the preparations for the party. We want the house clean. We want to bring out the best china. We want to put up the Happy Birthday signs. We want to be sure we have candles. Isn’t that what we’re doing in this season right now? What better way to prepare for his birthday than thinking about what He means to us, what His arrival on this earth did to change everything and about Him being Emmanuel — God with us — now and forevermore.
Oh come. Oh come. Emmanuel.