We've been in Albuquerque since August while Dan has been "learning" to fly an aircraft that he's been flying for almost a decade and training others to fly for 5 years. The Air Force has a certain way of doing things, so what could take a few familiarity flights has taken a few months of training. Everyone thought this wouldn't take long, but turns out it has and gradually my attitude has soured. With every day that he was supposed to be finished, I've grown a little more irritated that we should be doing something else by now.
Not much has changed in 30 years. I still can be that disenchanted little girl, ripping into the gift of today disenchanted and ungrateful for the gift I find. The plans I have blind me to the blessings God has in store.
Ask anyone what Christmas is really about and people will tell you all about the "real reason" we celebrate, but what does it mean when you tie that into the celebration of the advent season? What does that look like played out? As I prepare for another advent season, the way I want to celebrate this year is to receive. Instead of chasing after my dreams, I need to receive the gift of Christ in each moment regardless of my plans and circumstances.
Jesus was not exactly part of Mary's plan; She was busy with wedding plans. He wasn't exactly part of Joseph's plan. Joseph was worried about how to explain his fiances unplanned pregnancy, but instead of chasing after their dreams, they embraced the gift of Christ, and received the greatest gift known to man. So this advent season, I'm gonna do my best to receive each day for what it is: a gift and unwrap the Christ in every minute, pondering these things in my heart as Mary did. God has greater things in store. I just have to open my clinched fists to receive what God has planned for this day.
