Luke 2:28-32

Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying: "Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, 1which you have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel."

This is our story of adoption, a story filled with waiting, expectations and being a family. We adopted our daughter, Anna, from Honduras in 1991. Leaving our 3 year old son behind, my husband and I traveled to Honduras in May of 1991 to meet our 5 month old daughter-to-be, spent a week getting to know her, toured her homeland, and began the adoption process. One week later, we placed Anna back into the arms of her foster parent and returned home, prayerful that the process would continue to move forward.

We anticipated a three month wait. However, three months slowly turned into six months, and it wasn't until the week before Thanksgiving that we received our awaited phone call - everything is ready, come bring Anna home! At the time it seemed to make the most sense to send David down alone to bring Anna home because it was only a three day venture. I was very torn by this decision, but we wanted our small son to be part of anticipating Anna's homecoming too. This is when my "season of waiting" truly began.

Adam and I sent David off to the airport with lots of love, baby miscellaneous and prayers for a safe journey. I set off to do all the last minute touches to Anna's bedroom, and enlist Adam in making a "Welcome Home Anna" sign. The homecoming had to be perfect, just like in the magazine articles you read about! Three days later David walked off the plane with a very timid baby girl three weeks shy of turning 1 year old. All I wanted to do was engulf Anna in my arms and shower her with all the love I had stored away for the past 12 months while waiting for this day. However, Anna wanted nothing to do with me. Amidst all the traveling chaos Anna had barely attached herself to David; how could she even tolerate another stranger holding her in such foreign surroundings! To make it worse, we thrust her into a snowsuit and car seat for the first time and headed off toward home. Every time I look back at that first family snapshot, so many emotions from that day flood back to me. During one private moment I recall throwing myself on my bed sobbing and praying "Lord, why is each part of this process so hard? Please help Anna let me love her!"

We had grand plans to show off and share our new baby girl with family and friends; however, it did not happen that holiday season. One by one, everyone got the flu bug. Amazingly enough, I remained healthier than the rest of the family, and it was during that period of illness and recuperation that Anna depended on me, and was able to get to know me. I was there and able to rock and walk her while she weathered the flu. It was as if God knew this was the way Anna and I could begin to bond and connect. It was Christmas Day and David was in bed with a fever and chills, Adam lay limp on the couch, and it was then that Anna crawled over to me and settled on my lap feeling comforted by my presence. I was struck by such a peaceful joy. This was my Christmas gift; this little person so content to be on my lap. We had made the connection! I felt so blessed and thankful.

I often think back as to how unrealistic my expectations were that holiday season, and realize how gently and quietly God answered my prayers and rerouted my expectations and priorities by slowing us all down with the flu bug. One can only imagine the expectations people of Jesus' day had anticipating the coming of a Savior. Once again, God worked in very quiet and gentle ways celebrating the birth of His Son in a humble stable on a bed of hay.

Lord, Life doesn’t always live up to my expectations. Help me find contentment in the quiet joys life brings. And as Simeon rejoiced in holding the baby Jesus in his arms, may I rejoice in celebrating Jesus’ birth with my loved ones. Amen.