Anticipation

Kids say the darn’dest things…

You never know what your kid is going to say…especially when he is 5.

Last night, I asked Beale, my 5 year old son, what his favorite part of the day was. We had gone to get donuts, taken a trip to put together baskets of food to be distributed to the needy, hung out with friends and gone to see a movie.

He thought for a moment and said, “Your hugs, Daddy.”

Well.

That will warm the coldest grinch’s heart.

I also asked Beale what his favorite part of Christmas is. He replied, not surprisingly, he loves opening presents Christmas morning. He asked me the same question. I had to think for a moment, but my response was Christmas Eve.

I love the anticipation of Christmas. Christmas Eve is the culmination of the anticipation.

Anticipation.

As a child, I was just like Beale. I loved Christmas morning.

We would spend the night at my grandparents house Christmas Eve, and I could never go to sleep. Between being in a strange bed and the impending greatness of the next morning, I would lay in bed for hours waiting for the appropriate hour to get up. I would rush down the stairs to joyfully find what Santa Clause had left under our tree. Legos. A bike. G.I. Joe’s. An Atari game.

As an adult, I love watching my kids energized by the coming of Christmas morning. Friday morning, Beale practically jumped out of bed, exclaiming, “Only 5 days ’til Christmas!” The only way we’ll get our kids in bed tonight is to threaten Santa skipping our house because the children aren’t asleep.

We love the anticipation of the big moment.

And the opposite is true…we are let down by the realization of the moment.

As a kid, I remember the feeling of disappointment Christmas afternoon when all of the presents had been opened. Sometimes I would try to hold back a few gifts to help the feeling last. It wouldn’t.

It’s not just Christmas, but we all ask this question from time to time, “Is this it?”

2000 Years ago.

Last weekend, our church was fortunate enough to host the K-Love Christmas Tour concert. Meredith Andrews, for King & Country and Big Daddy Weave all played.

There were a lot of great moments, but maybe the most memorable was a statement from the lead singer of for King & Country. He said, “Imagine the world the night before birth of Jesus, the first Christmas Eve. There was no savior.”

There was ONLY anticipation.

It’s a world I can’t imagine. No savior, yet for some…a few…there was only anticipation like Beale, you and I have for Christmas now.

As much as I love anticipating Christmas, I love hope more. The Savior those few faithful were anticipating brought hope for the masses.

Tonight.

This evening, I’ll enjoy worshipping together as a family. I’ll celebrate our tradition of eating at the local IHOP. I’ll savor the anticipation, as I watch my kids buzz with excitement.

More than anything, though, I will rejoice in hope.

I have hope because my Redeemer lives. But I also have hope because this is not it.

There is so, so, so much more.