A thrill of hope: More snow

A thrill of hope occurred right before Halloween, during the end of October, and when we had a small dusting of snow across the Midwest. I recall that the snow quickly melted by the afternoon that day, but the thrill of hope that I heard from my youngest son was heard with a shriek of excitement that morning. It was followed with a concentration of thought and vision of hope in his eyes that a snowman or snow fort could be constructed soon.

Hoping, waiting, yearning and craving filled a little boy with anxiousness. “Is there really going to be enough snow” he asked as he peered out of the living room window. Before I could respond, he must have noticed the yet-green grass that wasn’t completely covered. “Daddy, when will we get more snow?”

I don’t know exactly what your current feelings of the cold and wet or icy snow are as you read this, but I’ll guess that its mention might elicit a thrill of desperation or even might make you shiver a little bit as you wait and long for spring weather.

While we wait for a change in seasons and fairer weather, we still have four weeks before Christmas that are filled with many activities; caroling, crafts, nativity scenes, cookies, advent calendars, wreaths, Christmas lights and decorations, and even perhaps some last minute shopping and mailing of holiday cards.

We must remember that Advent is four weeks of expectant waiting for the celebration of the Nativity of Jesus at Christmas. This expectant waiting for arrival reminds us as Christians to remember and prepare for the Birth of Jesus and of humanity’s redemption and the future return of Christ in glory and his kingdom come.

Our thrill of hope in Jesus has saved us from a weary world! We rejoice for receiving a new and glorious morning. O holy night! The stars are brightly shining!

David Bergert lives in Bettendorf with his wife, Ewelina, and two sons, Jonathan and Jacob.