By Pastor Rick Soto The Ranch Church
America just buried President George H.W. Bush with all the pomp and circumstance fitting a war hero.
Tears were shed by family and friends, but there was a certain kind of satisfaction knowing that at the ripe old age of 94, it was time for him to go home.
On social media a cartoonist posted a caption meant to honor the late president, and to his surprise it went viral.
In the caption the president lands his war plane in the clouds of heaven, and Barbara Bush is there to greet him along with their daughter Robin, who died at age 3 from leukemia. The daughter is pictured as a little girl swinging from the arms of her beloved parents, and Barbara Bush looks into the president’s eyes and says, “We waited for you.”
In ancient times there was another celebration. A child was born, and heaven wanted everyone to know. No Instagram posting was needed. Angels famously came to shepherds keeping watch over their flocks at night. The sight was frightening to them, so an angel spoke. “Fear not,” he said. “I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”
Good news of great joy is hard to come by, and Saviors even more so.
Saviors save by acts of love, and their purpose is often misunderstood. The Christmas child became a man’s man and took all the dirty sin of the world upon himself, so that all his love and beauty could re-enter humanity again.
And on that day when humans are no more in this world, a new world will open, where a host of friends and angels will say, “We waited for you.”
