In The Waiting

I don’t know about you, but I am

r e a l l y not good at waiting.  The recent pandemic has all of us doing exactly that.  Waiting for a hug, the return of family gatherings, and no mask.  We truly took for granted the mere warmth of a hug from our loved ones, family, and friends.  We look forward into our future with hope.  It is my hope, that with the availability of the vaccine and scientist continuing to work on the antidote of this new threat to the health of our friends and loved ones; we will win the battle and once again safely eradicate this danger to our society.

I am sure like myself, this change to what we have come to call the new “norm” has caused many of us to reflect.  Perhaps reprioritize our lives in the things that truly matter.  It got me to thinking about the times in my life that I have had to wait for anything at all and how I responded in those moments.  Have I grown from those fiery trials/tests of my walk of faith?

Then I began thinking of a young man that impacted my life during a very dark valley.  His name was Josh, it was our first week at children’s and his mother had befriended me.  She gave me the 411 about the floor and where to find everything I might need.  Then she introduced me to her son.  He was around 9 or 10, I can still see him smiling as I entered his room.  So upbeat and friendly, he loved to play the trumpet and he loved Jesus.

Josh had been diagnosed with A.M.L. (Acute Myeloid Leukemia), our daughter Sarah had been diagnosed with A.L.L.(Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia).  Josh and his family had been at it for awhile now and were very encouraging to me and my family during our journey. 

Before I left out that day, Josh asked me if I had a favorite verse of scripture.  I answered with a mere, “there’s just too many too narrow it down”, but honestly my mind was too drained at the time to even think of one.  He then told me he had claimed a verse of scripture for his journey.  Intrigued I asked which one.  Josh proudly quoted Job 13:15 “Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him.

I nearly wept right there.  What a great testament of faith.  Here I was a mother on the brink of a nervous breakdown because I had a sick child, and this young boy was staring cancer in the face and quoting scripture.  Talk about a humbling experience. 

Sadly, Josh lost his battle with cancer 1 year later, but he did not go down without a fight and he never waivered in God’s purpose for him.  I often think of Josh and my Sarah and how they are completely pain free and in the arms of Jesus.

So, are you like Josh?  Are you making the most of your time regardless of the current obstacles you face?  What are you doing while you wait?  I actually asked myself the same question not so long ago?  Remember to take a moment, reflect, and continue to strive for your purpose every single day.  We can still impact lives.  We can still share our faith.  We can make the most of the waiting and hopefully come out on the other side even better than where we started.  God always has a plan.  He’s got this.  We just need to be like Josh and put our faith in action.