The Wait

I hear that during this week's lunar eclipse that the animals were very still, very silent.  They anticipate something that nature is bringing so they hush.  They sit still. They gather their young and lay securely in their nests or beds, waiting. 

I think that this is what happened on earth the night of the birth of Christ.  I imagine that some people, caught up in their own business and importance, missed the pause. They hustled and bustled through their daily activities. But those in tune with God simply knew.  Their air was heavy with anticipation of something.  The wind ceased.  Animals were quite.  Birds hushed their singing.  No wolves howled or dog barked or horses neighed.   

The earth was silent.  She was waiting. 

Suddenly, after a young girl's cries of labor pains, a baby's cry broke the silence.  Angels appeared on a hill top to shepherds.  I'm guessing that birds began to sing much earlier than normal.  Young kids danced while old goats watched.  Horses neighed and whinnied while roosters crowed in the middle of the night.  Trees danced, even without a breeze, while grass swayed.  Rivers babbled a little more joyfully. 

The wait was over.  The Savior was born.  Redemption and hope lay in a manger in Bethlehem.  Isaiah 9:6 tells us "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called  Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,  Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."

The wait is over.  Jesus has come. 

Let's tell the world.