Anticipation

     Around 11:00 p.m. last night, December 23, 2016, I became a great-uncle.  I’ve always been a great uncle, but now I’m really a great-uncle.  My nephew and his wife had their first baby—a precious girl.  For nine months, they have been anticipating her arrival, and now their joy is complete.

     Waiting isn’t always easy, and in our culture of immediate gratification and instantaneous results, anticipation is a lost gift.  Advent and the Christmas Story are all about the power of anticipation, as we celebrate the fulfilment of the greatest anticipation ever—the Word becoming flesh and making his home among us.

     Anticipation can be a powerful blessing in marriage.  There are some things in life that just can’t (and shouldn’t) be rushed.  Anticipation slows us down.  It helps us to appreciate each moment for what it is, as we look forward to something even better ahead.  It creates an environment of preparing, praying, and hoping.  Through positive anticipation, we expect the best of our spouses.  We prepare ourselves to be blessed by our mates and be a blessing to our mates. We pray more fervently for each other.  We find joy in marriage that would have otherwise escaped us.  We find hope that carries us day by day.

     Carry the true message of Christmas into your marriage.  Slow down and anticipate the goodness that comes from your covenant relationship.  Some things are always worth waiting for.