Advent is a season of waiting, and waiting requires patience. Compared to Love, Hope, Joy, and Peace, patience is a poor cousin. It doesn’t come with trumpet blasts or satin ribbons; it doesn’t sit on top of the Christmas tree or sparkle.

When my grandson was visiting with his family on Christmas Eve he could hardly sit still. He whispered to his father until I asked, “ Is there something I can help you with?” In agony the five year old said, “I can’t remember if the cookies come first or the stockings?”

Patience isn’t easy, especially for children, but also for everyone. Both the Old and New Testaments express the need to be patient: “I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry.” (Psalm 40:1) David also shares his patience with us: “I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.” (Psalm 27:13-14) Though he had been anointed king of Israel, David waited patiently for years for the fulfillment of his anointing. He repeatedly rejected opportunities to take the throne from Saul. When all obstacles were removed, David’s conscience was clear of taking the throne for himself. His patience bore fruit when God promised him an eternal patrimony: “Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever.” (II Samuel 7:16)

In the New Testament an Angel of God visited Mary to tell her, “The Lord God will give him (Mary’s son) the throne of his father David, ad he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”( Luke 1:32-33) In patience Mary waited for nine months, and then for thirty years before he started his ministry. Mary’s patience was sorely tried at the cross.

Enduring patience is an engine in the spiritual world that moves human beings and God closer together. Patience is not being discouraged, but persevering in faith. It is staying in touch with Christ so that without seeing Him, we may with assurance wait for Him.

Advent is a time of waiting, and of deep assurance of the arrival of God’s own son into our world and into our lives. It’s a time to probe the mystery of a loving and creative God who asks patience of us in waiting upon His Holy Spirit. As we wait we are renewed by the promises in His book and in the witnesses of countless ones who have gone before us. May He give us patience with children, adults and with Him, for “Love is Patient. . .”(1 Corinthians 13:13)

Love in Him,

Prue