The third day of December

The second person of the Christmas story is the wife of Zechariah.
Her name is Elizabeth.
Her story begins in Luke 1:6
[Both of them were righteous before God, living blameless
according to all commandments and regulations of the Lord.
vs7 But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were getting on in years. 
vs 24 After those days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she remained in seclusion. She said, vs 25 this is what the Lord has done for me when he looked favorably on me and took away the disgrace I have endured among my people.]
Those who have studied the Christmas story know how old Elizabeth was and how it was medically impossible for her to be with child.
It was also a great ‘shame’ to be without a child in those days.
I would imagine she was post menopause in age and definitely not young enough
to be even thinking of having a new little baby.
You can imagine her joy when she found out she was chosen to have a child
not just a child but a very important ‘chosen’ baby boy.
Have you ever waited for something for so long that after a while
your longing and dreaming becomes a thin wish… and then sorrow
takes the place of the fulfillment of your dream?
Yeah, I would imagine that is what they felt within their empty broken hearts.
Wishing and hoping and waiting for a baby and like every other couple who have difficulty conceiving a child the disappointment becomes the normal feeling month after month.
Then all of a sudden she realizes with Zechariah the dream is real.
She understood the miracle of the moment and that God was blessing them in a miraculous way.
God had chosen their child for a special reason and purpose.
Their son, the one they would conceive and the angel said
his name would be called John and he would play an important part
in the Messiah’s story.
Johns name means “the Lord has been kind.”
What an important part of the story and also a great reminder for us.
Don’t get discouraged in the waiting process.
Someday, when you are least expecting it, your ‘dream just might happen’ and it will be better than anything you could imagine.