Short daylight hours and long days at work leave little time for outdoor tasks, so I was excited to have time this afternoon to unbox the old string of C7s (who knows how old; they were my Grandma’s!) and she’s a little mugggy did’r. (Ahem. Without autocorrect: shed a little light outside. Disclaimer: I’m writing this on my phone. From bed. With my hood on.) As I turned to the little tree inside, placing the Maasai-beaded ornaments and homemade gifted star on the boughs, I pondered all the ways we “get ready” for Christmas. I don’t believe that December 25 is when Jesus was born, but I do believe that there are many who knew He was coming on whatever date Christmas was, and were getting ready in various ways.

I’ve never been pregnant, but an unscientific survey of just about every woman I know reveals that the final 3-4 weeks of ante partum involve a lot of wishing pregnancy farewell. I wonder if Mary felt the same way – an eager anticipation to meet her baby (can we call Jesus “her” baby?), a hesitant fear to welcome a living, breathing bundle into the world with the awesome responsibility of keeping it well and safe and warm… a wish to be done waiting for the Promise? I wonder what sort of things she did when she was “nesting” in her home!

I’d imagine that the edict requiring the census count would have been issued by this time. Joseph would be consumed by determining logistics of their upcoming journey – perhaps looking for Bethlehem family connections for a place to stay, perhaps looking for others Bethlehem-bound from Nazareth (Uber wasn’t around yet; at least not on a carpenter’s salary). I wonder if he was an anxious father; worried about providing for his family, perhaps hoping the pregnancy would last until they were back home.

And imagine the excitement of the angelic host! I’d be surprised if they weren’t holding rehearsals of “Glory to God in the Highest” prior to the first ever Christmas concert. I’m not entirely in tune with angelic pastimes, but I wonder if they had a guessing pool for the baby’s birthday. 🤷🏼‍♀️ They had to have been excited to see Jesus again – I’d guess He had been “away” for about 9 months by that time. What nervous excitement the angels must have felt, wondering how God could fit into a tiny baby! I wonder if they were readying to scrutinize His newborn face, looking for features they recognized; if they wished to caress His tiny fingers, knowing them to be the hands that hung the stars.

And God the Father? Was He lonesome for His Son, being out of communion with Him for 9 months? Did He “speak” to Jesus in the womb, so that the Son knew His Father’s voice? No way I can know on this side of Heaven.

What an exciting and pivotal time in Earth’s history!

And now I wonder, how am I getting ready? Is my home ready to receive a King? Have I practiced the hallelujahs I’d wish to exclaim when He arrived? Am I really waiting in eager anticipation? Perhaps now is the best time to live my best life. To do the things I’ve been convicted of as good, but have let them slide out of focus to the tune of “another day”. To love without reservation, to encourage without selfishness, to share without timidity.

Good news! That Baby that was getting ready to be born? He’s ready to be on my side. We’re in the final weeks! Let’s get ready. ☺️