Good morning, DearHeart.

When my brothers and I were little we lived in Harrah. Every weekend we’d make the trip to Caddo County to visit my grandparents, one night with the Coons in Carnegie, and the next at Mom and Pop Reinking’s in Fort Cobb. Every weekend in the car we’d fuss over who got to lay on the ledge between the back glass and the back seat, and we’d ask Dad, “How much further?” to which he may or may not have “patiently” replied “Three more hours” even if we were only ten minutes away. It was a familiar ride on a familiar journey.

There’s comfort in familiar.

Much of my journey to knowing Christmas, and to knowing Christ is laced with the same kind of familiar. Some of the questions that children ask their parents like “why” and “how do I do this”, are questions I repeat to my Savior. And, He patiently answers even if it is the hundredth time.

He knows me.

He knows the way that I take.

He knows the questions I will ask.

There is something so reassuring about being known. Being known takes your expectations and turns them into promises.

Today is my Bryan’s birthday. Even as his life plays out, twisting and turning, he is the patient anchor in our twizzling family life. He reassures me often that there’s no need to worry because the foundation of our future is already set in place. God takes each question we ask, each fear we hold too tightly to, and each uncertainty about what’s next and changes them into His beautiful promises. Just beyond each trial comes an opportunity that God is moving us toward. That’s expectation.

Just as a mother knows her child, God knows every intimate detail about us. I can’t’ get enough of the reminder that God chose you and me even before we were born. Bryan’s the one that reminds me of the expectation that God has already planned out

every word,

sentence,

paragraph,

and chapter of our life story.

He had it all planned when we were just a twinkle in His eye. Even before each of my sons made their way into the world, I dreamed of their future and planned so many things for them. All the love I knew filled my heart as I waited for their arrival into my life. That’s also expectation.

God does the same dreaming and planning for each of us. He is doing the same for Bry.

And, for you.

And, for me.

He has a plan and a future and a story outlining everything He knows about each of us, just as He did for His son,

born in a stable,

the hope of all who seek Him;

the hope of our world.

“My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from Me, for my Father has given them to Me, and He is more powerful than anyone else. No one can snatch them from the Father’s hand. The Father and I are One.” John 10:27-28

Wake up.

Arrive today with expectation.

Go.