the countdown

Today is December 1st! Can you believe it? Wow, how time flies, even on bed rest. Only 17 days until our scheduled c-section. Today as I was marking off one more day on my "Countdown to Claire" calendar, I thought about the process we have gone through in our anticipation for her arrival. Then I thought about how many of us got our advent calendars out and began the countdown to Christmas Day! It is almost here!! As I thought about all the countdowns in my life and the anticipation and excitement that I go through, I began to think about counting down to the day I get to see Jesus face to face....be it in Heaven or the day He comes back to Earth...
Why don't I countdown for this day? Granted I have no idea when it will be, making the official countdown difficult, but why do I not live in anticipation for that day? I have everything beyond ready for Miss Claire and Christmas for that matter. Since the day I found out I was pregnant, I have been getting ready....planning...preparing. But, I do not plan for seeing Jesus. I don't live in preparedness for my King's return. My heart is not as it should be; my life doesn't always coincide with His great plan. Why is this? Of all the things that I live preparing for, shouldn't I be living preparing for my King above all else?
So, this Christmas as we count down to the celebration of His birth, let us also prepare our hearts for His return. For one day, every knee will bow....let's be ready!