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Poem: Watching, Waiting, Hoping, Praying by Stephanie J. DeMartino

Watching, Waiting, Hoping, Praying
Another breath per minute taken
Watching, Waiting, Hoping, Praying
Will this one be her last?
I sit there in the darkness
In the quiet I listen intently
I know what they've done to her
but all I can do now is try to protect and guide her till dawn
It used to be me that cried out to her to ease my pain
Now it's she who calls out to me to keep her here
Watching, Waiting, Hoping, Praying
Another breath per minute taken
Slowly the dawn creeps in and the night fades away
She opens her eyes and I am the first one she sees
She smiles
Another day has been granted.

Reflection

Our Corporate life in Christ doesn’t mean we always know the way, or even the exact outcome. Yet, we joyfully wait and keep watch during Advent. In fact, as we draw nearer to the birth of Jesus we are reminded that, first and foremost, we are God’s children and walk by faith.

The first disciples and earliest Christians faced many dangers and had no idea how things would go, or where their lives would end up. Yet, they knew they needed to follow Jesus. The same is true for us today. After all, God looks always with attention and infinite love at each one of us. I am continually inspired every day by the affirming, caring and supporting of one another and neighbour I witness within our church community and our diocese.

As we continue to drawn near the close of our Advent season, let us remember that the spiritual essence of the season is waiting and paying attention. Of looking with patience and hope for the future that God has prepared for all people, and the joy that will come.

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Image credit:

Miller, Mary Jane. A Mother's Love Holds the World, from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN. https://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/act-imagelink.pl?RC=59655

Worship And Prayer
Celebrating Advent and Christmas