What a year this has been! For me, it began with three major spinal surgeries, but for my husband Gene, the year marked his graduation from this life to the next. As I have said on other occasions, Gene got the better end of the deal. He no longer has to wear a face mask, socially distance himself from Jesus, or worry about election results. The coming weeks will mark Gene’s first Christmas in Heaven, something he looked forward to and hoped for all his life.
Advent is that time of year when we all hope for something that will arrive in the future, specifically the birth of Christ at Christmas, but also we have a hope of being with him forever in Heaven. With that thought in mind and also considering the ever-present COVID pandemic, I introduce the theme of Advent 2020: “HOPE.”
In the days ahead, we will explore the idea of hope, what the word means, what we are yearning for, and how we hold on to hope when our world seems to be crumbling around us. For today, however, meditate on this one fact: “Hope does not disappoint because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts by the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 5:5)
People may disappoint us but when God promises something, our hope is never frustrated. We can be confident that God will come through!
(Come back tomorrow to join me for the next installment in this study of hope!)
