I will gather those of you who mourn for the festival, so that you will no longer suffer reproach. Behold, at that time I will deal with all your oppressors. And I will save the lame and gather the outcast, and I will change their shame into praise and renown in all the earth.

Zephaniah 3:18-19

December 21 is a date that marks some pretty significant events in my life. In 1985, it was the date I proposed to my wife (to those of you who might wonder, she did say yes!). In 2016, we welcomed our “grand”niece, Alice, into the world. But let me tell you about what I consider one of the most wonderful events that occurred on this date in 1990.

The day was just like any other day in December.  I went to work not knowing my life was about to change. It was around 9:30 or so in the morning when I got a call from our social worker at Lutheran Family Services. We had applied to adopt a child earlier and were awaiting approval and placement of a child.

The social worker called to tell us they had a child, a baby boy, ready for placement with us. The question was, could we pick the child up by 2:00 that day or we would have to wait until after Christmas!  Of course we made arrangements to welcome the child that day.

Remember earlier I said we were awaiting approval to know we were going to adopt? Later, when I checked the mailbox, the approval letter was delivered that day!

Advent is a time when we wait and prepare for the coming of Jesus. We look to the future salvation He brings us by His birth, death and resurrection. God sends our salvation and, as the text states, saves the lame, gathers the outcasts, and changes our shame into praise!  We can know that we have hope and salvation through God’s love.

Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together! – Psalm 34:3

Prayer:  Jesus, hope for our salvation, we praise you for loving us so much that you gave everything you had just for us!  In your name we pray, Amen!

Contributed by Tom Johnson