I was waiting in line at a department store recently and determined that I was in the wrong line – not because they couldn’t handle my purchase but because this line was moving so slowly I thought I might not pay for my purchase until sometime after the new year had begun. The line was not long (only two people ahead of me)but slow.
I began to realize there really is a lot of waiting for Christmas.
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Wait for the clerk at the checkout to finish her converstion with a friend in line.
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Wait f.or UPS, FedX, USPS to deliver packages ordered on-line
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Wait for the light to change for the third time because traffic is congested making it impossible to move through the turn lane.
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Wait for family to arrive for Christmas dinner.
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Wait for the final touches to be put on Christmas dinner before it is served.
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Wait for dessert.
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Wait for time to open presents.
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Wait for life to return to normal after guests are gone, dishes washed and trash put in the dumpster.
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Wait for friends and loved ones to believe the story of Christmas and trust Jesus.
Perhaps it is the season for patience. Waiting is not a bad thing. It is in waiting that we learn to trust. It is in waiting that character is built. It is waiting that we can take the time to reflect on the implications of the Christmas story.
