First Coming

First Coming
by Madeleine L’Engle

He did not wait till the world was ready,
till men and nations were at peace.
He came when the Heavens were unsteady,
and prisoners cried out for release.

He did not wait for the perfect time.
He came when the need was deep and great.
He dined with sinners in all their grime,
turned water into wine. He did not wait

till hearts were pure. In joy he came
to a tarnished world of sin and doubt.
To a world like ours, of anguished shame
he came, and his Light would not go out.

He came to a world which did not mesh,
to heal its tangles, shield its scorn.
In the mystery of the Word made Flesh
the Maker of the stars was born.

We cannot wait till the world is sane
to raise our songs with joyful voice,
for to share our grief, to touch our pain,
He came with Love: Rejoice! Rejoice!

Waiting

Putting our old Christmas tree skirt out today reminded me of waiting...waiting 26 years ago for our youngest to be born...waiting and worrying and wondering as I was on bedrest pretty much all of the last 3 months of my pregnancy...waiting for a due date(Dec. 26) which passed...many ultrasounds and stress tests...the waiting long...in the waiting time this tree skirt was made. Waiting...

It is Advent. A waiting time. A journey towards a celebration of a baby's birth. Jesus' birth. What was Mary's waiting time like? Did she wonder and worry? After all, she knew she was carrying God's Son! What did she feel in the waiting and when He was born? This child , this King, this Savior!

 

 

 

...we waited, and finally after being induced twice, our son was born healthy and well! And we rejoiced and were thankful!