Remembering December 7

December 7, 1941 was the date.  The place was Oahu in what now is the state of Hawaii.  On that Sunday morning, Japanese planes attacked the United States Navy installation of Pearl Harbor destroying many lives and much of the Pacific fleet.  While the attention of military personnel and local residents alike were focused on what was happening at Pearl Harbor, Marie was concentrating on something else.   At the Naval Hospital just a few miles from Pearl Harbor, she was giving birth to a little girl that she had carried in her womb for 9 months.  On a day when many lost their life a few  miles away from her, Marie gave birth to a new life. While many around her felt deep sadness,  Marie felt the joy of a new baby. 

I had the priviledge to be Marie’s pastor many years after that December day.  Though it has been decades since she told me that story, I still remember it.    While many Americans remember December 7 as a day of sadness, Marie remembered December 7  as a day of joy in her life.

Historians can give you many reasons why our country suffered such a major attack at Pearl Harbor that day.  Surely one of the reasons was that our armed forces were not prepared for such a violent and devastasting act.  On the other hand,  one of the main reasons why Marie gave birth to a healthy, beautiful baby girl near Pearl Harbor that day was because she had followed medical counsel from her doctor.    It is always important to be prepared.

In these December days, Christians everywhere are in the season of Advent.   Remembering the urging of the prophets long ago to prepare for the coming of God’s anointed one, the Messiah, we prepare for the coming of Christmas and the living Christ into our midst in these days.  At the same time, Advent reminds us not only that Christ comes, but Christ will come again.  There will come a time when Christ will come and will create a “new Jerusalem” defeating the principalities and powers of this world.   On this December 7 and in this season, let us prepare accordingly.   Have a joy-filled week.-  Pastor Randy Wall  

Prayer:  O God,  who has come and is coming: prepare my heart through the power of your Holy Spirit for your coming in these days;  through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.