the waiting is the hardest part

" Marybess, it's NEVER gonna be my turn!" Three-year-old Parker flung himself into my arms as yet another group of six children (who AGAIN didn't include Parker) were admitted to the Moonwalk at the Wachusett Mountain Apple-Fest.

Ah, yes...this is truly tragic when you're three--excuse me, three and a half. After all, both his older sisters had gone in, and all these big kids were going before him--this was just SO not fair, in his mind. It truly seemed that his turn would NEVER come.

I pick the strangest places to ponder, and here, as I cuddled my little buddy (who alas, has turned seven--although he will still cuddle with me..AND he pronounces my name correctly now, as well... :D), I pondered reality. I know...Sail pondering reality...yes, be very afraid.

So as I snuggled him, I assured him that it would certainly be his turn soon. I'm not quite sure he really believed me. I thought about Parker's reality, which was that his turn was NEVER going to show up. My reality in this situation, was that it would simply be a few minutes longer. Then I thought about the reality of all humans who are waiting on God to allow a long- standing prayer, or the one true desire of the heart to come to pass at last. Waiting for that cry of the heart to be answered, whatever it may be.

Hmm.

I got a bit of an image at this point; a mental picture of God the Father holding us close, as we lamented to Him that we were tired of waiting, for whatever it was. Instead of being the impatient parent, He was gentle, maybe burying his face in our hair, like I was doing with Parker, kissing us the way I was smooching Parker, and whispering, "Don't worry. It's coming. Hold on. " (oh, and by the way, i in NO way mean to equate my actions with those of the Lord...). Maybe we, like Parker, are not always quite ready to hold onto that, and trust it. What I'm learning lately is that, thankfully, God doesn't get tired of us, in all our toddler-like impatience and unbelief. The waiting, truly is the hardest part. He understands.

So, in the end, Parker got his turn in the moonwalk, and it was good. :) My prayer for you is that whatever answer you are waiting on the Lord for, that you will not grow weary in the times when it seems like you are in a holding pattern. And that you will remember to curl up in His arms when it seems like it's too much.

In His love,

Sail