Optimist’s Roundtable

By Martha Sykes

“It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas” Those words to a familiar song are in our minds these days as we look Amazing around at all the beautiful lights and decorations that brighten our very dark nights. Familiar sounds of the season have been more frequent as we start to sing Christmas songs at church or hear them on a TV special or a radio program or in concerts that you may attend.

Shopping, baking, wrapping presents, sending cards, can all be part of our lives before Christmas. As we have begun our advent season in our churches, we are also reminded that this is the time for us to prepare our hearts for Jesus. Not only to celebrate His birth, but to prepare ourselves for His return to earth some day.

It is at such the time as this that we are reminded in our scriptures, that we need to prepare for our eternity with Jesus, in anticipation of His promised second coming.

In our community, we have advent services that we can attend with fellow believers. There are many advent reflections that are available in booklets or online that you can read. In the gospel of Luke, chapter 2, you can read the whole story of the coming of the baby Jesus.

Advent is a time of spiritual reflection that can awaken in all of us, the peace, hope , love, and joy of the season.

As you go about planning for the celebration of Jesus’ birthday, please take the time to send a card or reach out to someone who may be going through a rough time this holiday season. It will touch their hearts and make your spirits a little brighter.

In the midst of our busy days, let us pause to pray that the story of the baby Jesus will touch a lot of hearts and bring hope and peace to our world.