Preparing: Silent Night

Dear friends of mine adopted a little boy from Guatemala six years ago. Every year they celebrate his Gotcha Day--the day he came home from Guatemala to live with his forever family. As part of the celebration, they watch videos his foster mother made, when my friends first met him, and when they brought him home. They first met their son when he was 2 months old, and parents and child were strangers to each other. There was a lot of uncertainty for the couple as they were first time parents with this little baby. Months of preparations and prayer had been spent leading up to their first meeting, and I can't imagine what it was like for them that first night together. What does this cry mean? Does he like to be on his stomach? How much will he eat? When will he eat? Will he sleep? How long? Will we sleep? Is he happy? Sad? Scared? Are we doing the right thing? Are we going to be okay?

God calls us to do some strange things. Maybe it is to adopt a little babe from a distant country, to give a person a ride when the temperatures are below freezing, to love a relative that is unbearable, to move to a different country to share the gospel, to down-size material possessions, or to pray for people. God's ways seem strange because they bring about redemption and transformation. He is our King and His reign is different than what we have ever known. It is also better than what we could even dream. This is not how it was meant to be.

On this second Sunday of Advent, we are Preparing. Preparing for the King, preparing for all things to be made new, preparing our hearts, preparing for the season and life ahead, preparing for what He calls us to do. When I hear Silent Night, I think back on another young couple with a new baby. Scared. Nervous. Alone. Joyful. Peaceful. Together. Mary and Joseph were no more prepared than any other couple, and they were the earthly parents of the Son of God. For me, this song conveys all those emotions.

Silent night, holy night
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon virgin
Mother and child
Holy infant, so tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly peace
Sleep in heavenly peace.

Silent night, holy night
Shepherds quake at the sight
Glories stream from heaven afar
Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia
Christ the Savior is born
Christ the Savior is born!

Silent night, holy night
Son of God, love's pure light
Radiant beams from Thy holy face
With the dawn of redeeming grace
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth.

Silent night, holy night
Wondrous star, lend thy light
With the angels let us sing
Alleluia to our King
Christ the Savior is born
Christ the Savior is born!

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