In Anticipation

Recently I took my five year old to Discovery Cube. On this particular day, many schools brought their students for a field trip. Naturally a wait formed for the activities, so we got in line for our first one.

In front of us were two students who seemed to be really close friends. As they waited, I could feel their anticipation for what was to come. They shared excitement of what they would do, what it was going to be like and how much fun it was going to be. Although my daughter and I have done this activity many times, their anticipation got us excited all over again! Their anticipation was caught.

Joyful Waiting: The wise men came to mind and the anticipation they must have had in awaiting Jesus’ birth. In Matthew 2:1-2 it says, “After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.”

How great would it be if — in this season of celebrating the birth of Jesus — what was felt and observed in our circles, our homes, our work space, our neighborhoods were of our great anticipation for the coming Messiah, Savior, Our Lord just like the heart of the Magi.