Advent has begun and as I sit here listening to the Hallelujah Chorus blasting at almost full volume on the television thanks to my husband I am filled with the happiness of the expectation of Advent. Every year I get excited when the first Sunday of Advent rolls around. It brings back wonderful memories of years long ago when the excitement of the season was experienced through my eyes as a child.
Growing up in a pastor’s family meant that this time of year was always very busy with all of the church activities but my parents made a point to make the time a time of wonderment and joy for us. I have so many great memories of our devotion times, lighting the candles on the Advent wreath and just all of the specialness that goes with the season.
The first week in Advent is when we traditionally light the candle of hope. Now hope can mean many things. I hope I can get my house decorated. I hope that I can get the perfect gifts for my loved ones. I hope that the weather is nice this week. But honestly, that is not the kind of hope that we think of when we enter the season of Advent.
Wikipedia defines hope in the following way:
Hope is the emotional state which promotes the belief in a positive outcome related to events and circumstances in one’s life. It is the “feeling that what is wanted can be had or that events will turn out for the best” or the act of “look[ing] forward to with desire and reasonable confidence” or “feel[ing] that something desired may happen”. Other definitions are “to cherish a desire with anticipation”; “to desire with expectation of obtainment”; or “to expect with confidence”. In the English language the word can be used as either a noun or a verb, although hope as a concept has a similar meaning in either use.
The hope I focus on is the expectant anticipation of the arrival of the birth of my Savior, Jesus Christ, and all that goes with that. During this time of expectant waiting and anticipation my “hope” for each of you is that you find hope of your own this season.
This week, please feel free to share with me where you find your. hope during this season. What brings you hope? Thank you for sharing and one gift I will leave you is this perfectly wonderful flash mob video that not only brings me hope but brings me much joy as well. Enjoy.
