Savoring Stillness

Savoring Stillness

This morning, I’m standing in my living room looking through the windows to watch my dogs as they scamper through the morning frost. As I stand here, the dogs fade from view and I’m struck by the stillness of everything.

As Christmas Day draws closer, I find myself already anticipating its end. I’m already planning when to take the tree down. The stockings, once hung with care, will soon be shoved in a box until next year. And I know the new gifts will become old all too quickly. But in the calm of the trees and flowers, all eagerly awaiting the full warmth of the sun, I realize my sense of expectancy has been misplaced.

Heavenly Father, you are the maker and giver of all good things. Thank you for the reason we celebrate this season, the gift of your Son, Jesus Christ. In all the plans and preparations, help me find moments of stillness to receive and savor the beauty you have written into each new day. With joy and gladness, I praise you.

Tish Harrison Warren writes, “God made this day. He wrote it and named it and has a purpose in it. Today, he is the maker and giver of all good things.”

Just as creation stands motionless in anticipation of the morning, in stillness we can wait with joyful expectancy to see what God will reveal to us today. In stillness, we are most able to receive what God has made. In stillness, we not only enjoy God’s gifts, but we’re also able to savor them.

Yes, someday soon we’ll be taking down our trees and making plans for the new year. But not today. Today is the day that the Lord has made. And between now and Christmas, as we prepare our hearts to receive Christ our Savior, let us find stillness to rejoice in each day and be glad in it.