The Joy of Children

Advent literally means, “coming” in Latin. Our God is a God who comes – our God is a God whose desire is to be with us. Advent proclaims that our God came to the world and was born in a lowly stable; Advent proclaims that our God is coming again but no one knows the hour; and Advent proclaims that God is coming to us even now.

And so throughout Advent we prepare. Our preparations are not unlike the preparations that Isaiah is calling the Israelites to make. Israel has been invaded by Assyria, and Jerusalem is under siege. The center of their faith, the Temple, with the Ark of the Covenant, the Holy of Holies, God’s presence is threatened. The prophet acknowledges that all that is left is a stump. The tree has been cut down, it’s branches removed. There are no more leaves; there will be no more fruit. God’s people, God’s nation, is now a dry, hard, cracking stump. But the prophet knows that it still has roots, and a shoot will come up out of those roots.

The story of God coming to be with God’s people is not over yet. A new growth will grow up out of the roots and the Spirit of God will be present. Righteousness and faithfulness will be worn like clothes. Strange groups will find peace – wolf and lamb, calf and lion and fatling, cow and bear, toddler and snake. And a little child shall lead them.

God is coming and a child shall lead us. When I think of children and Christmas, I think of anticipation and excitement.

When you were a child, did you count down the days until Christmas? Maybe you had an advent calendar, or a paper chain. Maybe you asked every day how much longer until Christmas. Every year I had an Advent calendar, with chocolates behind every door. And it was always hard for me to tell how many days were left until Christmas because I couldn’t wait…and I opened all the doors and ate all the chocolate.

Do you remember how excited you were about Christmas when you were a child? There is something special about having children in the house on Christmas – the excitement is palpable. Movement is constant; sitting still or sleeping are next to impossible. One little boy was asked why Christmas is good for families, and he answered, “Christmas is the one day you can wake everybody up and get away with it.”

God is coming and a child shall lead us to anticipate with excitement his coming. When I think of children and Christmas, I also think of joy that comes from being open to hope.

Barbara Brown Taylor writes about the perspective that children offer us because they have “fresh minds…not yet hedged by the constraints of ‘reality.’ They look at stars and see pinholes punched in dark cloth that separates them from everlasting brightness. They drape towels over their shoulders and become monarchs in ermine cloaks with toilet brush scepters. They create whole civilizations in the exposed roots of an old oak tree, complete with twig fences, acorn currency, and lakes made from jar lids full of tap water.”

Why are children able to imagine, to wonder? Barbara Brown Taylor’s answer convicts me every time I read it. “Small children have not yet learned to view the world around them as scenery, a flat backdrop to walk past on their way to somewhere else.”

They still notice. Toddlers explore the world by putting it in their mouth. Every sound is intriguing. Every color, every flash of light is noticed. “To apprentice oneself to a child,” says Barbara Brown Taylor, “is to learn that the world is full of wonders, a world in which nothing is simply what it seems because everything is packed with endless possibilities of usefulness and meaning.”

The world is full of hope! A group of children were asked what makes Christmas special. Stacy, an 8 year old, answered, “Everything sparkles at Christmas…especially the people.” Victor, a 10 year old was a little more practical, “Tis the season,” he answered, “to have loving thoughts in your heart and Christmas cookies in your stomach.” Henry, a 9 year old, was asked what the real message of Christmas is, “The message is that wonderful things can happen here on earth too – but most of it starts higher up.”

We may sometimes look at the world and see a stump. For adults it is hard to believe that wonderful things can happen here on earth too, unless we are open to hope. Open to what starts higher up coming through us to the world. Open to God’s love.

During World War II, 4 young American soldiers who had been in battle for some time were sent back from the front lines to a small French village for a little “R&R.” When they arrived in the village, they suddenly realized that it was Christmas Eve, and they began to discuss how they would spend Christmas.

One of the soldiers said, “You know, as we were coming into town earlier today, I noticed an orphanage on the outskirts of the village. Why don’t we go there in the morning and take some Christmas joy to those children?”

The others liked the idea, and the more they talked about it, the more excited they became. So they went out and bought all kinds of toys and candy and clothing and food and books and games, and early the next morning, they showed up at the front door of the orphanage with wonderful Christmas presents for all the children. The orphanage director was pleased, and all the children were delighted as they opened their gifts – all the children, that is, except one little firl, who stood quietly off to the side. She appeared to be five or six years old, and she looked so very sad.

One of the American soldiers noticed the little girl was not participating, and he asked the orphanage director about her.

“Oh, bless her heart,” said the director, “We just got her last week. Both of her parents were killed in a car wreck. There was no one to take her in, so we brought her here.”

The soldier went over to the little girl and gently said, “It’s Christmas morning, and we have wonderful Christmas presents here – toys, clothes, candy, food, books, puzzles. Which would you like? What do you want most for Christmas?”

And the little girl said, “I want somebody to hold me.”

And a little child shall lead them. Because where a stump is apparent, a shoot is ready to grow. If we are open to it, God is coming. As an American soldier hugs a French orphan girl, as love that starts higher up comes down, wonderful things can happen here on earth too.

May we prepare for God’s coming. With the anticipation and excitement of a child waiting for Christmas morning. May we be joyful like a child as we celebrate God’s desire to come among us. And may we be open to hope like a child – knowing that nothing is simply what it seems because everything is packed with endless possibilities of usefulness and meaning.

There shall come forth a shoot from the stump and a branch shall grow out of its roots. And all creation will dwell in righteousness, faithfulness, and peace. How will they learn this way of living? A little child shall lead them.

In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Amen.