This was originally posted in December 2012.

Image by Stushie – http://www.stushieart.com

When someone comes to visit, we get the house ready.  We make the guest room up; we clean the bathroom; we make sure there’s enough food in the cupboard.  We are preparing to make them feel welcome.

Advent is a time of waiting and preparing. And this preparation feels to me like a way of welcome – readying ourselves to welcome the Christ child. Are we ready for him to take his place in the ‘manger throne’ that is our hearts?

Of course, we should never be constricted by the church year so that we do not continuously prepare ourselves to welcome our Saviour – every day of our lives.  But Advent can act as a time of reminding – that he deserves the best welcome we can give – and beyond.

So this Advent I ponder the way of welcome – how might I make my heart a welcome place for the one who loves me so much?