God had been silent for 400 years. 400 years. I feel isolated and dejected if haven’t encountered Him in a couple days, the very idea of silence for that length of time breaks my heart. For those who knew and waited, when they heard the stirrings that something was happening…can you even imagine what their hearts felt? And then, when it happened…when God’s own Son was born. The HOPE. The thrill of HOPE, the weary world REJOICES. Things we take so much for granted because we’ve always known those beautiful carols, the scriptures have been read to us since we could sit still. I find myself trying to explain this…