Advent Promise – Love

Advent means “coming” or “arrival” ~ it is a season of attention & focus on the promises of the coming Messiah. It is a season of expectation: hope, joy, love, peace & presence of a Savior-King!

The promise of Love was proclaimed by the prophets:

To us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. -Isaiah 9:6

Imagine Mary….

Oh the love I have for this child. I love him so deeply. This child who seemingly came out of thin air. It feels like I’ve been living in a dream, ever since the angel came to me and told me to not be afraid. Not be afraid? Not be afraid to tell Joseph I was with child… to try to convince him that the child came from God? But God in His mercy and loving kindness relieved me of my fear and confusion. Me! He had chosen me. The angel told me God favored me! It was unbelievable. I was the one to carry, love and care for His son. 

And oh how I loved Him.

I look at my baby, my son, and my heart bursts with a protective and fierce love. Which is strange I know considering He came to save me. When he was born, Joseph and I named him Jesus just as we were told. Jesus, what a beautiful name. Jesus what a beautiful baby.

The time came to go to Jerusalem and present Jesus as is required by the law of Moses. There were many people there, and I held my son close amidst all the activity. But then a man came to us. His name was Simeon, I could feel the Spirit was on him. He was a good and devout man and the Lord had told him that he would not die until he held the Messiah, and here we came bringing God’s son into the temple. Simeon took Jesus in his arms and dedicated our son with the most powerful prayer: “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace, for my eyes have seen your salvation which you have prepared for all people”

Even as I listened to this godly man pray for my son, my heart filled with an unknown fear. My son, Jesus was to be the salvation for all people, surely at a deep cost. 

But for now… for now… He is mine to protect. To love, to teach, to care for.

For now, I wipe away His tears, I kiss His skinned knees.

For now He is mine to hold before He leaves me to save the world.