As our friends know, Peter and I have four beautiful grandsons of whom we are very proud (that's an understatement really!): James & Adam and Jake & Daniel.

What excitement there was as we awaited for their respective arrivals; not least by us as prospective grandparents. Whilst our daughters and sons-in-law wondered what the sex would be, bought prams, clothes, decorated, etc. - the list goes on - Pete and I planned in our minds what we would do to entertain these children when we were given the privilege of caring for them; we looked forward to having them to stay, to telling them things of our childhood, not to mention things of their parents' childhoods!

Throughout the Old Testament, God had been preparing us for the most special baby of all when He sent His one and only Son into the world. His birth is foretold in Isaiah. This baby would be different because He would save the people from their sins. In Luke, the Angel Gabriel appears to Mary telling her that she had been chosen to be the mother of God's Son. I wonder how she prepared for that! No doubt she would have been very nervous at the responsibility but, after the initial shock, she was able to praise God. As we read the Magnificat we can see that her faith was so great that she was at peace, and content to leave everything in God's hands. She was able to prepare her mind in joyful anticipation of the privilege being given to her. She also knew that there would be pain as well as the joy, something with which all parents can have empathy. We know nothing of Jesus' childhood until the age of 12 but I'm sure that Mary would have been like any mother-to-be, planning in her mind what she would teach her child and how she would raise him. When the time came to give birth she was ready.

We are approaching the season when we celebrate again the arrival of that baby, Jesus. There seems such a lot to do; presents to buy, cards to write, baking to do... there's no end to making sure that all will be ready. It's a time when so often we seem worn down with the stress of it all instead of looking forward to the special day with anticipation. Why do we do it? - because it's tradition? - because, as in the case of our own babies, we want things to be just right? Sometimes we are so busy dashing around we miss what it's really all about.

We have recently celebrated the arrival of a fifth grandchild. This child is no more special than the others but this time things are a little different - because this beautiful baby is a little girl. She is called Amélie Rose. As with each grandchild before her, we simply gaze in awe and wonder at this little miracle and our hearts just melt with love.

This year, as we take the opportunities to attend Nativities, Carol Services, etc., may we find ourselves being able to leave all those thoughts of preparation behind and gaze with that same awe and wonder at this even greater miracle before us.

Of course, we know just when this big day is; it's the same date each year. But what about the advent of Christ's final coming? When our grandchildren arrived there was a rough idea when that time would be so it was quite easy to be ready. We have no idea when Christ's second coming will be. Are we ready? Are we prepared for that final advent?