[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_row_inner parallax_bg_width=”110″ parallax_speed=”normal” bg_type=”theme_default” bg_grad=”background: -webkit-gradient(linear, left top, left bottom, color-stop(0%, #FBFBFB), color-stop(50%, #E3E3E3), color-stop(100%, #C2C2C2));background: -moz-linear-gradient(top,#FBFBFB 0%,#E3E3E3 50%,#C2C2C2 100%);background: -webkit-linear-gradient(top,#FBFBFB 0%,#E3E3E3 50%,#C2C2C2 100%);background: -o-linear-gradient(top,#FBFBFB 0%,#E3E3E3 50%,#C2C2C2 100%);background: -ms-linear-gradient(top,#FBFBFB 0%,#E3E3E3 50%,#C2C2C2 100%);background: linear-gradient(top,#FBFBFB 0%,#E3E3E3 50%,#C2C2C2 100%);” parallax_style=”vcpb-default” bg_image_repeat=”no-repeat” bg_image_size=”cover” bg_img_attach=”fixed” parallax_sense=”30″ viewport_vdo=”viewport_play” enable_controls=”display_control” bg_override=”0″ class=”advent” el_id=”adventHeader”][vc_column_inner width=”1/6″][us_image image=”8122″ animate=”afb” animate_delay=”0.2″ size=”medium” link=””][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”2/3″][vc_custom_heading text=”Advent Devotional” font_container=”tag:h2|font_size:65|text_align:center|color:%23efefef” google_fonts=”font_family:Condiment%3Aregular|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal” el_class=”adventTitle”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/6″][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner parallax_bg_width=”110″ parallax_speed=”normal” bg_type=”theme_default” bg_grad=”background: -webkit-gradient(linear, left top, left bottom, color-stop(0%, #FBFBFB), color-stop(50%, #E3E3E3), color-stop(100%, #C2C2C2));background: -moz-linear-gradient(top,#FBFBFB 0%,#E3E3E3 50%,#C2C2C2 100%);background: -webkit-linear-gradient(top,#FBFBFB 0%,#E3E3E3 50%,#C2C2C2 100%);background: -o-linear-gradient(top,#FBFBFB 0%,#E3E3E3 50%,#C2C2C2 100%);background: -ms-linear-gradient(top,#FBFBFB 0%,#E3E3E3 50%,#C2C2C2 100%);background: linear-gradient(top,#FBFBFB 0%,#E3E3E3 50%,#C2C2C2 100%);” bg_color_value=”#eaeaea” parallax_style=”vcpb-default” bg_image_repeat=”no-repeat” bg_image_size=”cover” bg_img_attach=”scroll” parallax_sense=”30″ viewport_vdo=”viewport_play” enable_controls=”display_control” bg_override=”0″ background=”primary”][vc_column_inner width=”1/6″][us_image image=”8251″ size=”full” link=””][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”5/6″][vc_column_text]

Christmas Expectations

by Carolyn Schmitt

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For years I struggled with the Christmas “Season”. Many of my childhood memories of “The Season” were colored by loss of family, friends , the bitterness and anger of the people raising me and the unfulfilled hope that somehow, this year, it would be different.

Then there were the expectations: Give the right gift. Be kinder. Be more obedient. And, after I became a Christian, a whole new list of expectations from those who wanted nothing to do with Christ, but knew how a Christian should behave, especially at Christmas.

About 20 years ago I was asked to be one of several speakers at a women’s Christmas one day retreat. The subject was Christmas Hospitality. I told the friend who asked me that I couldn’t do it because I didn’t like Christmas and told her why. She was silent. Then she said, “I think it would be helpful for many of us if you would share about the difficulties we all may have with Christmas. I did. I was stunned by the response from so many there who also struggled with the expectations that have grown up around the “Christmas Season”. What WAS unexpected was the feeling of release I experienced after sharing my struggles with those women.

This year I am pondering again the prophecies regarding the Messiah, specifically Isaiah 7;14-17 and 9;6.

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. (Isaiah 7;14-17) NIV

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. (Isaiah 9:6) NIV

For centuries these words were read, wondered at and the event hoped for. Young women hoped they might be the one to bear the child, perhaps never thinking what could be the consequences of being found to be with child before marriage.

And the child! What would be the expectations placed on a child believed to be Immanuel? Wonderful Counselor! Mighty God! Everlasting Father! Prince of Peace!

From the 1950’s through the 1990’s a news broadcaster named, Paul Harvey, had as part of his program a segment called, THE REST OF THE STORY, which delighted many of us with it’s little tidbits of information about someone who became or did some- thing unexpected. He would relate part of the story, there would be a station break, then he would tell us “the rest of the story”.

Those of us who have been around the “rest of the story” of the earthly life and actions of the child born in Bethlehem don’t have to wonder about what people reading those prophesies speculated on for years. The story is repeated at Christmas each year, so we know what was promised happened, but not in the way expected. Nothing about the child met our expectations, but still we have them.

I wonder about what I expect from him as I ponder this Christmas all that surrounds our celebration of his birth.

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