Waiting For Christmas

For as long as I can remember I have waited with bated breath on the happiness that December brings. I would make my list and dream of the chocolate dipped pretzel my mom makes every year. Throughout the months of waiting there were times that I would despair feeling that it would never arrive and that I couldn't wait another second. Every year to date, however, I have made it to Christmas. I have gotten to over indulge on sugary sweets. I have gotten too ripe open my presents. I have gotten to experience the magic of Christmas.
Though not intentionally, I believe that this has been training me to experience the Advent season on a deeper level. Advent is about the waiting and I have been waiting for Christmas for many years now. Now I understand that the despair I felt was the world without the gift that Christmas brought. And we still have that despair at times waiting for the Savior to come again. To free this broken world from the darkness that still exists.
Going through the Advent season this year has really helped me appreciate this time of year better. Not only this time of year but my life as well. The waiting and despair have a purpose and that purpose is to prepare our hearts for the receiving. The receiving is put into perspective when we know what we currently have. We live in a broken world that will never truly satisfy our soul deep desires.
Christmas is the culmination of our desire to see a restored world and revived souls. Though this season has been corrupted like everything else in the world it does serve as a glimpse into what is to come. Our souls have life breathed into them. We are able to gather to those who mean the most to us. We are able to take the time to reflect on the birth and death of our Savior. And we are able to share the love of Jesus through gifts and the gospel.
Though the clouds have not yet been rolled back and the Jesus has not yet called us home, we can share His love and experience our own relationship with him on a deep level this Christmas Season.