How many times have you been asked that lately? I know it’s a pleasantry of the season; even a way, perhaps, for someone to acknowledge and show interest your own personal holiday. Yet it seems that each year, once the calendar flips over to December, the race is on.

 

Although I love the decorations, the gifts and all the special events planned around the Christmas holiday, it’s not those types of things which I count when it comes to truly being ready for this special time of year.

 

Christmas can be held in the living room under the tree or in the dining room around the table. But in all cases, true Christmas is about preparing the heart to make room for a Savior, one who came in the form of a baby - sized just perfectly for every heart.

 

For the past couple of weeks, I’ve really had my mind on what it must have been like a couple thousand years ago when people were waiting for that gift to arrive. Conditions were bad in Israel and Judah. There had been wars, government takeovers and one king after another who couldn’t fix it all.  I’m sure there was a range of emotions – fear, anger and hope, all included. And just when and where people least expected it – it happened. The Messiah arrived, just as had been promised.

 

How brilliant that the Savior would come as a tiny innocent baby. What better display of love and sacrifice than for God to send His own son to bear the sins of the human race which He himself created. It’s a circle of love and a concept not so difficult to wrap our minds around if we open our hearts.

 

So let every heart prepare Him room and come, let us adore Him – the Messiah, the Christ Child, the Bright and Morning Star and, yes, the Prince of Peace.  

 

Julie Perine can be reached at julie@connect-bridgeport, 304-848-7200 or follow @JuliePerine on Twitter. 

 

More It's Happening HERE.