The inspiration for this post developed from a conversation with a dear friend, she said, “I’m tired of waiting; I’m growing
impatient.” My friend was referring to waiting for her future husband, but this concept of waiting is something we all encounter - relationally, professionally, academically, etc.
I
combatted her sassy statement with this analogy.
A little
girl approaches her father “Daddy, will you please take me to Disneyland tomorrow?”
Daddy is
wise, he knows how special this day is for his daughter, he also knows tomorrow
is supposed to be a thunder storm, and although he could afford to purchase a
ticket (and only that) he recognizes that the experience would fall short of what
his daughter has dreamt of.
He
replies, “My precious girl, yes, I’ll take you.
I’d be thrilled to take you, but you’re going to have to wait.”
Upon
hearing the word “wait” she hangs her head, sniffles holding back tears, and
shuffles away to hide in her room.
The
sympathetic heart of her father breaks when he sees her devastated look, BUT in
his wisdom he know that waiting will provide her with more than she could have
imagined. If he ignored his wisdom and took her tomorrow, she'd surely be disappointed and soaking wet. If he told her of his grand plans he'd ruin the element of surprise. Her father's word "wait" is a promise of great things to come. Her
father sees her Disney request as an opportunity to spoil his sweet girl, to
show her how great his love is for her; if the day was just about fulfilling a
request he could hand her a ticket and drop her off at the gates, but he wants
to make it a day she remembers forever.
He wants to be able to afford to take all of her friends, to buy her a
princess dress and a tiara, provide her with VIP access to all the lines, have all meals shared with her favorite princesses, afford any treat she desires,
have her ride on the princess float in the parade, and have her name written in
the sky during the fireworks show. He
wants to surprise her, he wants to bless her, he wants to provide her with the
very best, he wants to partake in her joyful squeals, he wants to do all this because he is HER daddy and he loves her so.
Doesn’t
our anticipation while waiting increase our appreciation upon receiving? When you are forced to wait, your desire
intensifies, when that desires is satisfied you are overwhelmed with
thanksgiving and treasure it even more.
“MGBYAKYAMHLSUY. ILYM.”
That gibberish is a regular text message I receive from my dad (yes, I understand the entire abbreviation). “ILYM = I love you most,” he constantly tells
me how much he loves me, but greater than his words are his actions. When I was in the 3rd grade I was
adamant that I was to be Princess Jasmine for Halloween, the costume wasn’t
available in stores, so my father sewed one for me (refer to the right for photo evidence). My sister and I wanted a playhouse, my father
built us the sickest playhouse in all the neighborhood – 20 feet in the air,
switch back stairs leading to the entrance, electricity, carpet, the
works. My father loves to make his
children feel special; I awoke one morning to white ice skates by the door…and
a homemade ice skating rink in the back yard.
He is my #1 fan/cheerleader, this man flew to Kentucky six times throughout
my collegiate athletic career, never missed a National race. He has lost countless hours of sleep editing
my papers the night before they are to be submitted – my poor time management
cost him sleep so that I could sleep. My
National Physical Therapy board exam was 4 hours in length – my father spent 4
hours on his knees praying for me! I’m
28 and I still call my dad when I encounter a problem – October 2013, I felt
overwhelmed with life, I was training for my first figure competition, packing
to move out of my apartment, but hadn’t found a new place, and due to work and
other commitments I was waking at 6am and returning home after 9pm. I was completely exhausted – y’all know those
days when you’re certain you’d cry over spilt milk – it was one of those. I called Dad to ask for guidance and during
our conversation I said, “it is times such as these I wish I lived closer to my
family.” Dad replied “I wish that too,
but go to bed sweetie, things will be better in the morning.” I cried “No things won’t be better, because I
still won’t be packed.” I awoke the next
morning and much to my surprise a flight itinerary sat in my e-mail inbox with
a note from my father “pick me up tomorrow night.” Y’all, my father flew out for a week to pack
my entire apartment and help complete my entire to-do list. No doubt about it, my daddy loves me!
It is
difficult for me to comprehend a greater love than what I’ve received from my
parents, but God’s word claims He loves me most. I am content to wait
for what he has planned because I know, just like my daddy, He is going to WOW me. “Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.” (Ephesians 3:20)
Sparkle while you wait,
Q.
Here is a little encouragement for those finding
themselves in a period of waiting. I
recommend reading this poem aloud – yes, Dr. Seuss style.
Desperately, helplessly, longingly, I
cried:
Quietly, patiently, lovingly God replied.
I pled and I wept for a clue to my fate,
and the Master so gently said, "Child, you must wait".
"Wait? You say, wait!," my indignant reply.
"Lord, I need answers, I need to know why!
Is your hand shortened? Or have you not heard?
By Faith, I have asked, and am claiming your Word.
My future and all to which I can relate,
hangs in the balance, and YOU tell me to WAIT?
I'm needing a 'yes', a go-ahead sign,
or even a 'no' to which I can resign.
And Lord, You promised that if we believe
we need but to ask, and we shall receive.
Lord, I've been asking, and this is my cry:
I'm weary of asking! I need a reply!"
Then quietly, softly, I learned of my fate,
As my Master replied once again, "You must wait."
So I slumped in my chair, defeated and taut,
and grumbled to God, "So, I'm waiting...for what?"
He seemed, then, to kneel, and His eyes wept with mine,
and He tenderly said, "I could give you a sign.
I could shake the heavens, and darken the sun.
I could raise the dead, and cause mountains to run.
All you seek I could give, and pleased you would be.
You would have what you want - But, you wouldn't know Me."
"You'd not know the depth of My love for each saint;
You'd not know the power that I give to the faint;
You'd not learn to see through the clouds of despair;
You'd not learn to trust just by knowing I'm there;
You'd not know the joy of resting in Me
When darkness and silence were all you could see."
"You'd never experience that fullness of love
as the peace of My Spirit descends like a dove;
You'd know that I give and I save...(for a start),
But you'd not know the depth of the beat of My heart.
"The glow of My comfort late into the night,
The faith that I give when you walk without sight.
The depth that's beyond getting just what you asked
of an infinite God, who makes what you have LAST."
"You'd never know, should your pain quickly flee,
What it means that "My grace is sufficient for Thee."
"Yes, your dreams for your loved one overnight would come true.
But, oh, the loss! If I lost what I'm doing in you!
So, be silent, My Child, and in time you will see,
that the greatest of gifts is to get to know Me."
"And though often My answers seem terribly late.
My most precious answer of all is still, 'WAIT'."
Author: Russell Kelfer
