Andrew Bondurant 12/17/2023 To "long" for something means much more than to just "want" it. A longing is a DEEP desire. Some longings are shared across families, communities, and even nations. The nation of Israel longed for a king to deliver them from oppression and restore their relationship with God. They were longing for a "Messiah." The baby Jesus was the fulfillment of this longing. The shepherds went to see this child for themselves and were compelled to share the good news of His arrival with the people around them. It is good for us to share our longings with our fellow believers, and it is also good for us to share whenever God fulfills our longings--we need to share the good news and encourage others around us! SHARING is at the heart of Christmas.