Wait for it…
I know. Me, too. I hate to wait.
In the past week I have waited to fall asleep (for hours – not cool), waited for my son to board a plane (and for the line at TSA – always a trip), waited at the DMV (yup – did that, too), waited at the dealership while my oil was changed (gotta love that waiting room coffee), waited for my son to finish soccer practice (late – again)…
Hurry up and wait. Some days this could be my personal motto.
Patience is a virtue. Really? I’ve heard this before, too, but mostly from my children’s lips when they perceive that I’m not being patient.
Patience is also a fruit. A fruit of the Spirit. He gives this juicy fruit in the company of eight other varieties – qualities and attitudes that, no matter how hard we try to display them, are only attainable when we are ready to receive them.
Love. Joy. Peace. Patience. Kindness. Goodness. Faithfulness. Gentleness. Self-Control. (Galatians 5:22-23)
As impatient children, we tire of waiting on God. When will He answer? When will He move? When will our rescue come?
The Psalmist feels our pain as he cries out: “I waited and waited and waited for God. At last he looked; finally he listened.” Psalm 40:1 (The Message)
In the meantime – in the waiting – what are we to do?
While waiting to fall asleep, I decided that maybe there were prayers to be prayed and conversations to be had with God, so we talked first and then I slept.
While waiting at the airport, I sat beside my son and we hung out – we talked and I watched him play a video game.
While waiting at the DMV with my son, we giggled about the order in which the customer numbers were displayed on the call-board – is there any rhyme or reason to that system?
While waiting for my car to be serviced, I read a book and brought work to do – I came prepared to fill the time.
While waiting in the car for soccer practice to end, I thanked God for coaches who love their sport and like their players enough to let practice run long. And I talked to my Mom on the phone.
Praying. Talking. Sitting beside. Watching. Giggling. Reading. Working. Thanking. Waiting.
Want What You’ve Got this weekend, even if you have to wait for it. Munch that tasty Spirit-fruit and trust the Gardener to give you more as it ripens and is ready to eat.
But don’t just sit there watching fruit ripen… Hurry up and LIVE!
