I spent weeks researching the perfect bag. I know. So dumb. The thing is, I had long talks with my bestie, ChatGPT, about this bag. I wanted something stylish enough that it didn\u2019t scream \u201cdiaper bag\u201d but big enough to haul, well, diapers, wipes, snacks, sippy cups, etc. I wanted something that said \u201ccool girl\u201d more than it said \u201cspit-up cleaner.\u201d After scrolling, searching, and reading reviews, I finally ordered THE one. For some reason, the bag I wanted in the color I needed was discontinued, so I went on a hunt and I finally found someone selling this particular bag in this pristine color with the tags still on! Then came the real waiting\u2026refreshing the tracking page, watching it creep from \u201cProcessing\u201d to \u201cShipped\u201d to \u201cOut for Delivery.\u201d What a great use of my time and energy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019m not shocked to report that like anything else in this world, the cool-adjacent non-mommish bag couldn\u2019t deliver the thrill I was seeking. When it comes to bags, it\u2019s only a matter of minutes before Cheerios are spilled, sippy cups leak, and the shiny, new bag becomes just like every other mom-tote I’ve owned. My long-awaited package was delivered, but it couldn\u2019t really deliver. It couldn\u2019t live up to my expectations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And that\u2019s the thing about waiting in this world. It usually ends in a letdown. The thing we long for comes, but it disappoints or breaks or doesn\u2019t last.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At Christmas, kids wait for presents. They count down the days, staring at shiny boxes. We adults wait, too, for different things. We wait for answers to prayers, for clarity about the future, for healing in our homes or our bodies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Waiting is a part of life. And waiting is hard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
God\u2019s people in the Old Testament knew this deeply. They waited for centuries for the Messiah. They heard the promises, they longed for the rescuer, and they passed the hope down through generations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sometimes it must have felt like God had gone silent. Like the waiting wasn\u2019t working. But Galatians 4:4\u20137 says, \u201cWhen the time came to completion, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, \u2018Abba<\/em>, Father!\u2019 So you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then God has made you an heir.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n At just the right time, the waiting ended. The package arrived. It didn\u2019t disappoint.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The angels proclaimed it in Luke 2:11, \u201cToday in the city of David a Savior was born for you, who is the Messiah, the Lord.\u201d The Savior had come. Hope was here. Not too soon. Not too late. Right on time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jesus really showed up. And He is not a letdown. He is more than anyone could imagine or expect. He is the rescuer who redeems, the King who reigns, the friend who never leaves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I don\u2019t know what you\u2019re waiting for. I don\u2019t know if it is better than a bag. But I do know THE gift has already been given.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Savior has come, and He is more than enough.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Today in the city of David a Savior was born for you, who is the Messiah, the Lord.<\/em> I spent weeks researching the perfect bag. I know. So dumb. The thing is, I had long talks with my bestie, ChatGPT, about this bag. I wanted something stylish enough that it didn\u2019t scream \u201cdiaper bag\u201d but big enough to haul, well, diapers, wipes, snacks, sippy cups, etc. I wanted something that said \u201ccool girl\u201d […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":77,"featured_media":72668,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[307],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-73099","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-advent25"],"acf":{"hero_background_image":false,"related_plans":[72991],"weekly_truth":false,"grace_day":false,"share_text":"#SheReadsTruth","devotional_text":"CHRISTMAS DAY: THE SAVIOR IS BORN<\/b> I spent weeks researching the perfect bag. I know. So dumb. The thing is, I had long talks with my bestie, ChatGPT, about this bag. I wanted something stylish enough that it didn\u2019t scream \u201cdiaper bag\u201d but big enough to haul, well, diapers, wipes, snacks, sippy cups, etc. I wanted something that said \u201ccool girl\u201d more than it said \u201cspit-up cleaner.\u201d After scrolling, searching, and reading reviews, I finally ordered THE one. For some reason, the bag I wanted in the color I needed was discontinued, so I went on a hunt and I finally found someone selling this particular bag in this pristine color with the tags still on! Then came the real waiting\u2026refreshing the tracking page, watching it creep from \u201cProcessing\u201d to \u201cShipped\u201d to \u201cOut for Delivery.\u201d What a great use of my time and energy.<\/p> I\u2019m not shocked to report that like anything else in this world, the cool-adjacent non-mommish bag couldn\u2019t deliver the thrill I was seeking. When it comes to bags, it\u2019s only a matter of minutes before Cheerios are spilled, sippy cups leak, and the shiny, new bag becomes just like every other mom-tote I've owned. My long-awaited package was delivered, but it couldn\u2019t really deliver. It couldn\u2019t live up to my expectations.<\/p> And that\u2019s the thing about waiting in this world. It usually ends in a letdown. The thing we long for comes, but it disappoints or breaks or doesn\u2019t last.<\/p> At Christmas, kids wait for presents. They count down the days, staring at shiny boxes. We adults wait, too, for different things. We wait for answers to prayers, for clarity about the future, for healing in our homes or our bodies.<\/p> Waiting is a part of life. And waiting is hard.<\/p> God\u2019s people in the Old Testament knew this deeply. They waited for centuries for the Messiah. They heard the promises, they longed for the rescuer, and they passed the hope down through generations.<\/p> Sometimes it must have felt like God had gone silent. Like the waiting wasn\u2019t working. But Galatians 4:4\u20137 says, \u201cWhen the time came to completion, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, \u2018Abba<\/em>, Father!\u2019 So you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then God has made you an heir.\u201d<\/p> At just the right time, the waiting ended. The package arrived. It didn\u2019t disappoint.<\/p> The angels proclaimed it in Luke 2:11, \u201cToday in the city of David a Savior was born for you, who is the Messiah, the Lord.\u201d The Savior had come. Hope was here. Not too soon. Not too late. Right on time.<\/p> Jesus really showed up. And He is not a letdown. He is more than anyone could imagine or expect. He is the rescuer who redeems, the King who reigns, the friend who never leaves.<\/p> I don\u2019t know what you\u2019re waiting for. I don\u2019t know if it is better than a bag. But I do know THE gift has already been given.<\/p> The Savior has come, and He is more than enough.<\/p> Today in the city of David a Savior was born for you, who is the Messiah, the Lord.<\/em>
\u2014Luke 2:11<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
\r\nby Scarlet Hiltibidal<\/i>
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\r\n\u2014Luke 2:11<\/em><\/p>","share_image_height":"640","day_number":"26","scripture":"Luke 2:1-20, Galatians 4:4-7","available":true,"ad_banner_name":"","ad_banner_image":false,"ad_banner_url":"","songs":"","key_verse":"","key_verse_reference":"","background_image":false,"background_color":"#FBF7F3","scripture_references":false,"share_image":false,"author_name":"","author_bio":"","guest_social_media":false,"show_ad":true,"ad_override":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/shereadstruth.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/73099","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/shereadstruth.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/shereadstruth.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/shereadstruth.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/77"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/shereadstruth.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=73099"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/shereadstruth.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/73099\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/shereadstruth.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/72668"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/shereadstruth.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=73099"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/shereadstruth.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=73099"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/shereadstruth.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=73099"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}