Waiting

Chuck got up at 3:10 to take our good friend to the hospital for his heart surgery, which was scheduled for 8:00 a.m. (wonder why the prep should take so long). So now we're waiting--for the surgery to start, for it to be over, for our friend to wake up (some time tomorrow, they say), for him to get well. Dear Lord, may it be so! I'm so proud of Chuck for being there for his friend. They're about the same age, 74+, and they both work hard every weekday at the mission.

This is the season for waiting. Yesterday in chapel we sang, "Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus."

Come, Thou long-expected Jesus,
Born to set Thy people free;
From our fears and sins release us,
Let us find our rest in Thee.
Israel's Strength and Consolation,
Hope of all the earth Thou art;
Dear Desire of every nation,
Joy of every longing heart.

And another favorite about waiting: "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel":
O come, Desire of nations, bind
all people in one heart and mind.
Bid envy, strife, and quarrels cease;
Fill the whole world with heaven's peace.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come. . . .

When we're kids, we wait impatiently for Christmas because of the lights, the songs, the treats, the special programs, the gifts. Then we reach the point where our longing shifts from the holiday to the Person (Emmanuel--"God with us"), and we plead, "O come"! A friend wrote that she was carrying many burdens on her heart, and was greatly encouraged by the third stanza of "It Came upon the midnight clear":

And ye, beneath life's crushing load,
Whose forms are bending low,
Who toil along the climbing way
With painful steps and slow;
Look now! For glad and golden hours
Come swiftly on the wing;
O rest beside the weary road
And hear the angels sing.

I get to play the piano for chapel tomorrow, and was asked to select my favorite Christmas song. Oh, please! It would take all morning to sing all my favorites. What shall I choose?

May I ask you to lift up a prayer for our friend's heart surgery this morning, and for his recovery. Bless you! And thank God.

Love,
Carol