Waiting on Christmas

This time of year, as we await Christmas, it gives us a chance to reflect on the meaning of Christmas and of waiting. If you are like most people you spend a lot of time waiting. There are red lights, traffic, checkout lines, appointments, and the really long wait for Christmas. Waiting is no fun at all. However, it sometimes is necessary. Waiting can be frustrating and in some cases, make you lose your patience. Waiting also can be necessary. It may be there to benefit you or to benefit someone else. Waiting may be something that is a wise thing to do in certain situations or may be purposeful even when the reason is not evident. 

I recently attended an invitation only celebration and memorial. All the guests were seated and the host began speaking to begin the program and welcome the hundred or more guests. The woman seated in from of me began talking and continued talking to a couple seated next to her. It was very distracting and I thought very rude. I waited for a few minutes wondering if I should say something to the woman to alert her to the fact that the host was speaking and she was causing distraction for those seated around her. Was I ever glad I wait to say anything and gave it some time. It turned out the woman was a translator for two of the guest that did not speak English. She was just doing her job to help them feel honored.

The next day I was driving and stopped to make a turn on a green light when I saw a man in a wheelchair beginning to cross the street with his dog running along side him. Of course I waited and it took them some time to cross the street. I could see in my rear view mirror that the woman behind me was getting frustrated. The man crossing was hidden from her view and she was likely thinking I was just not paying attention and wasting her time. She could not see that we needed to wait so the man and his dog could cross the street safely.The wait was definitely for his benefit and very necessary.

We are all waiting for our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ to return. Most of us wonder what is taking Him so long. We are ready and are eyes are seeking Him in the clouds. Waiting for Christmas teaches us that just like we wait to celebrate His birth so long ago in a manger, we wait for Him to return. Perhaps the waiting and the time that is passing seems long and unnecessary. In reality, it is part of God's plan so that there is time for many that might come to know Jesus to actually do that and join God's family. See, the wait may not be for you. The wait is to benefit others. Your job is to be patients and spread the gospel while you wait.

2 Peter 3:9  The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but  is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.