Prepare

The first thought that comes to my mind, as Jesus whispers this word to me is, “Prepare the way of the Lord.”  And that’s exactly what we should be doing this time of year.  We are anticipating and preparing for a very important guest at our Christmas celebrations.  I have so many fond memories of our past preparations for the Baby Jesus’ birth.  My husband and I would take a week (or more) to decorate our home, both inside and out.  The outside was lit up enough that a very good neighbor friend called us on the telephone, pretending to represent our electric company, and thanking us for all our business!  But one of my favorite preparations was unwrapping our coveted nativity sets, most holding a special memory of their origin.  As I gently took off the white tissue paper around each one, they produced a smile on my face and a perfect reminder of what it means to prepare for this sacred time.  I’m also not ashamed to admit that it was, and still is, almost impossible for me to pass up a special nativity when I come upon one in a store.   Both my husband’s and my face light up with joy, thinking of another special place to display our newly purchased family of the Baby Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, and also arranging all the accompanying manager characters.   However, our preparation time looks much different this year.  All our treasures are in storage crates, awaiting a new home in which to introduce them.  Am I clinging too much to our familiar Holiday traditions, forgetting that this is all just “window dressing?”   Maybe your preparation doesn’t look like last year’s due to a new location, new family members added or ones, unfortunately, lost.  Let’s resolve to cling tightly to our true focus.   We should still approach Christmas with the same longing, even if we don’t have a tree to decorate, the usual place for our family meal, and be joyful to start new traditions.  It brings a warming to my heart, pondering on this word – prepare.  When we strip everything away, including the preparation of buying gifts, wrapping up our gifts, and singing Christmas Carols, we are left with the most beautiful and holy part.   I think of Mary and Joseph preparing for the birth of their son, preparing to make a long journey, and desperately searching for a safe place to bring our Savior into the world.  That’s what I’ll focus on during this Advent season.  All my precious nativities may be packed away in storage crates, but that won’t stop me from bowing down in humility and thankfulness during this special Christmas year.  I pray that you will be able to prepare, in your own special way, to allow Jesus, the Christ Child, into your celebrations.  Amen.

“Listen! It’s the voice of someone shouting, ‘Clear the way through the wilderness for the Lord!  Make a straight highway through the wasteland for our God..”  (New Living Translation) Isaiah 40:3