Recently I discovered a video that brightened my day. It begins with two identical toddlers standing on their driveway, full of excitement. In their hands they are each clutching onto a bottle of Gatorade. As a garbage truck approaches with loud honks, both start to dance in eager anticipation, hopping from foot to foot and waving a free hand back and forth. His hair bouncing up and down, one yells, “Hi guys! Hi! Hi guys! I have Gatorade for you!” Joined by their triplet sister, all three children hand their Gatorade bottles to the garbage men hanging off of the back of the truck. They are all so excited to see their friends, the garbage men, that they are jumping for joy.

When I read today’s verse, I cannot help but share the excitement felt by these triplets as they wait for the garbage truck. A verse in which Micah prophesizes the coming of a Savior, the son of God, some seven hundred years before He is to be born. What a miraculous prophecy! Bethlehem Ephrathah could not have known the extent to which such a prophecy would be fulfilled. However, when I think of this clan of Israelites receiving such a promise, the first image that comes to my mind is a whole collection of happy dances, men and women and children hopping from foot to foot in eager anticipation of the coming of a child whose greatness would reach the ends of the earth.

May your Advent season be filled with celebration and gratitude for this prophecy. May you be filled with the knowledge that thousands of years ago, a small Israelite clan southwest of Jerusalem received the news of a Savior that was destined to be born, one that would change the world. May you remember to do your own happy dance as Christmas approaches and we celebrate the birth of Jesus, with as much excitement as three two-year-olds eagerly anticipating the weekly arrival of their friends.