Anticipatory joy…

 Anticipatory joy….

“Essential Meaning of anticipation

: a feeling of excitement about something that is going to happen

: the act of preparing for something

: the act of looking forward”

Merriam Webster 

After my husband was diagnosed with cancer, our family, really without realizing it or even knowing what it was, started going through “anticipatory grief”…it wasn’t an excitement of what was to come, both more of a preparation and use of as much time as we had left…it was family and friend time times 10…it was wondering what the next steps we needed to take…(there are websites about the subject which are really helpful)…

But, I was thinking about “joy” instead of “grief” in the nighttime watches last night…

That joy that comes from the excitement of things to come…things we look forward to…

Like family times, the birth of a child, something fun, birthdays, wedding…a word of encouragement, serving others, giving…whatever brings joy to your heart or others…

I looked forward to the birth of all my children…even though it brought more work, sleeplessness nights, each was met with joyful anticipation….now as adults, they still bring joy in their own unique ways…

I looked forward to marriage, with its highs and lows, it brought joy and fulfillment…

I wouldn’t trade marriage and motherhood for anything…they were and are a joy…

What brought these thoughts about? Christmas and it’s anticipatory joy…

I thought of Mary and Joseph…their anticipatory joy…parenting a Gift directly from God…marriage that was planned…trusting their lives to the Father…

The Jewish people waiting in anticipation for a Messiah…a king…not sure they appreciated Him coming as a tiny baby and not as a King…

But, going further back into history, life after life waiting in anticipatory joy…for one thing or another…

Moving forward…we wait in anticipation of the returning King…of heaven….or even  the Christmas season…

May each be met with joy…we, being ready….thank YOU….

However, as it is written: “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived” — the things God has prepared for those who love him— For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.

1 Corinthians 2:9,11

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. 2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going.”

John 14:1-4

Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

Revelation 21:1-4