A Season of Joy and Anticipation
“When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph and the child lying in the manger. 17 When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them, 19 and Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, just as it had been told them.”
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I can still remember the excitement and anticipation of Christmas morning when I was a child. It seemed the whole year was one long crescendo to this climatic event. I could hardly wait for Christmas Day to arrive.
It started a few days after Thanksgiving when we would travel several hours north to the mountains to cut down the “perfect” Christmas tree. Most of the time, our “perfect” tree was so tall it would hardly fit in the living room without some serious surgery.
It continued in the days that followed as we decorated the tree with multicolored lights, well-chosen ornaments, a looping golden garland wrapped around the branches, and finally a star placed carefully on the uppermost stem. We also put out the Christmas nativity scene figurines, hung red-bowed wreaths on the front doors, and placed sprays of greenery throughout the house. For many years we included five-candle, electric candelabras in each of the windows facing the street.
Then, as the days ticked down ever so slowly toward Christmas, the thrill, the joy, the sheer magnitude of the season grew and grew in my heart and mind. It was all so exciting!
I have fond memories of attending meaningful church services and beautiful choir concerts throughout the season. Nightly we listened to Christmas music albums on our newly purchased Magnavox stereo. We also enjoyed seeing Christmas specials on our small, 19-inch black and white TV. “Mr. Magoo’s Christmas Carol,” “Merry Christmas, Charlie Brown,” and the “Andy Williams Christmas Special” were perennial favorites.
Every Christmas Eve when I was growing up was spent with my mother’s side of the family at the Tanner Christmas Party usually hosted at one of my rich and stylish aunt’s home here in the Atlanta area. It was a thrilling and festive occasion!
On Christmas morning we woke up early – well, maybe not as early as I have heard from some other families – but early enough… it was still dark outside. Dad and Mom would organize us children into a single-file, straight line in the hallway before letting us go in to see what was under the tree. I was the youngest of my four siblings, so it was always my privilege to lead the processional. I can still remember standing there in that hallway about to burst with joy and anticipation. “What had Santa brought me this year?” “What gifts would I receive?”
Then, on cue, we entered the living room to see the bounty of gifts now piled up under the tree. It was like magic! The night before the tree was rather barren of gifts –but now, on Christmas morning, there was hardly enough room under the tree for them all.
In a way, the season of Advent is like the anticipation I knew as a child. God has an incredible gift for all of us, the gift of His Son, Jesus Christ. One of the best loved verses in the Bible speaks of this gift: “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.” And that Gift, the most wonderful Gift ever given, was given on the first Christmas.
As we celebrate the season of Advent and Christmas this year, let’s celebrate Christ as the greatest Gift of all. Let’s worship Christ with all the joy and anticipation this season brings. “O come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord.”
Merry Christmas
You are loved!
Mark
R. Mark Green
Pastor to Senior Adults and Youth & Children's Music