Yesterday was the first Sunday of Advent, the first Sunday of the time of anticipation leading up to the celebration of the birth of Christ.
The birth of Christ that we celebrate as THE gift of Christmas. The reason for the season. The reason that we celebrate Advent and Christmas.
And this is a GREAT thing! I love Christmas! I love being reminded of the anticipation that the Jews felt for many years as they awaited the coming of the Messiah.
And as we celebrate Christmas and Advent one of the things that we celebrate is RELATIONSHIP with God through Christ sent to earth as God in human form.
What a gift that God has given to us, the ability to have a RELATIONSHIP with God without having to go through priests and animal sacrifice, but rather to come to Him through His own Son.
His Son that came to earth as an infant and grew up just like we did. His son that encountered temptation just like we do. His Son that was tempted in every way, just like we are, and yet remained sinless.
All so we can have RELATIONSHIP with God. Straight up. One on one. I can talk to Him without anyone else in between.
This is an enormous gift! The gift of RELATIONSHIP with God, with the creator of the universe, the creator of life.
And this RELATIONSHIP is the one that we use to guide us in our RELATIONSHIPS with all other people.
RELATIONSHIPS that are open, grace-filled, loving, accepting, and full of mercy.
What a gift we have been given – one that allows us to approach God with confidence and an open door, but also one that guides us as we build RELATIONSHIPS with those around us.
RELATIONSHIPS that allow us and those we love to be who we have been created to be, without excuse.
Every day I find myself being more and more thankful for those who see me as the woman I have been created to be, and who work to build RELATIONSHIP with me.
And I hope that I am as willing to see others as who God has created them to be and build RELATIONSHIPS with them along the way.