We look forward to a lot of things in our lives. In fact, we eagerly anticipate so many different events that take place in our every day happenings.
I was most assuredly looking forward to seeing my daughter, Melissa, Thursday night. She had been gone for 5 weeks to another country and I was ready to see her. I had made my plans ahead of time and was doing everything in my power to make sure that those plans went off as scheduled.
I knew exactly what time her flight was coming in. I knew what airport she was landing at. (I didn't know which airline, but that's another story :) My husband and I had left in plenty of time to get to New Orleans way before her scheduled landing. We were ready.
Once we found her gate, we sat and we waited. The closer it got to that time, the more anxious I got. I was planning in my head what I was going to say to her when I saw her. I was literally having conversations with her in my head! (I know that's strange) When they landed, she text me to let me know that she was on the ground. I couldn't stay in my seat by that point and was up and walking toward the concourse to get the first look at her.
As I was watching the hundreds of people walking toward us, it didn't take me long to find my child. My daughter. My little girl.
I saw her and she saw me and she came and just wrapped me up in the biggest hug. It was so awesome to see her and to just feel her and know that she was fine.
That is the same anticipation that we ought to feel as we eagerly await the return of our Lord. We should be so anxious to see Jesus, that we make our plans early. We need to be on the look out for Him everyday. We need to make sure that we have made every preparation in our lives necessary as we look to his coming.
God gave us the flight plan when He gave us His Word. All we have to do is read it and be watching for the signs of His imminent return. We may not know the exact time but we can be ready. We can be prepared. We can be looking. And when we see Him, we will know Him.
"Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord." (I Thessalonians 4:17) 
