Advent Thoughts From an Expectant Father

I hope you don’t write this off as just another of Eric’s grumblings. I know I complain every year at this time of the year about how we gloss over the season of Advent. I talked a little about it in a sermon last week. You can read the whole sermon on torontonaz.blogspot.com (I think there is a link to the right).

This Advent, however, I think gives me a new perspective on what is already my favorite season. Advent is all about waiting and preparing. It is about letting the joy build like the fizz in a champagne bottle. The longer we shake – the longer we wait to pop the cork – the more spectacular the celebration is.

Make no mistake about it. It is very difficult to remain faithful to the spirit of Advent. It is quite difficult to wait for Christmas Day to celebrate Christ’s coming. This Advent, I found myself especially inspired to wait for the birth of God’s Son by my personal wait for the birth of my son.

When I think of Advent, I think of the baby with which Antonina and I have been blessed. I was talking to a friend a few weeks ago after our last ultrasound. He asked me how much our baby weighed. I told him our son weighed 3 pounds 8 ounces. He said to me, “Your baby is already 6 oz heavier than my son weighed when he was born at 32 weeks.”

They had many difficulties with their pregnancy, and their baby was born very early. It occurred to me that we could have our baby any time. It could come early just like theirs did. I am glad I get to wait. Every day I grow even more excited. Every day I feel the baby do things I could never have imagined. Every day that goes by is a better chance that both Antonina and the baby will be healthy. Every day that goes by is another day to prepare our home for the coming of the baby. Every day that goes by my joy is increased. I could jump the gun and wish my son was here now, but then I think of all the joy I’d miss…the joy that only comes by waiting, and anticipating, and watching the baby.

Always watch the baby, but never rush it. Embrace the wait and experience the joy. Happy Advent and Merry Christmas everyone!!!