Just as we ready our homes during Advent, it’s a perfect time to ready our hearts.
Since Advent is the waiting expectantly for the birth of Jesus, I began pondering the idea of what we should be doing in the weeks from now to December 24th. What do we do while we wait?
If I were personally expecting a new baby, I would tell everyone I know the joyous news. I would tell my family first and then I would call my friends and neighbors. I would plaster it all over Facebook. I might even tweet about it. A pregnancy is usually news that’s too good to keep to yourself. The grandparents often spread the news faster than the parents. A new baby is an exciting, life changing, event.
Isn’t the birth of the savior of our souls worthy of the same treatment? Shouldn’t we be bursting with excitement with the knowledge that God came to earth as a human on that night so long ago? Shouldn’t we be sharing that news with family, friends, neighbors and even strangers? Shouldn’t we be plastering it on Facebook or tweeting about it? Jesus’ birth changed humanity forever. Hope and grace were born with that tiny baby. Shouldn’t Christmas Eve be just as monumental as the birth of our own children?
When we are expecting a new baby, we do certain things to get ready. We buy baby things like bottles, diapers and blankets. We create a space for the baby. We often give him/her a room of their own that we paint and decorate just for them. We make all kinds of preparations.
Perhaps Advent is a good time to ask ourselves what kind of space we have given Jesus in our lives. Have we given him a tiny corner in our hearts and in our lives or have we given him free reign? Maybe it’s a good time to make more space for him and clear away some junk we no longer need. Do we really need that anger and disappointment we have been carrying around all of these years? Do we need to hang on to hurts from so long ago?
Perhaps, now is the time to clear away all of those negative feelings and emotions that we no longer need, just like we would clean out a new room for a new baby. Forgiveness frees up a lot of space in our hearts. Jesus takes up a lot of space when we let him.
But, that’s the key, isn’t it? Jesus will not take up residence in our hearts or in our lives, if we don’t invite him. He doesn’t shove his way in, he waits for an invitation. An invitation to let Jesus really take over our hearts takes a little preparation.
So, during this Advent season while we await the joyous birth of our savior, I’m going to take the opportunity to do a little heart cleaning and be sure I’m ready, because I truly want to give him the run of the place. What do you think? Care to join me?
Have an awesome day!
Wendy 🙂