While We Wait

Perhaps it is predictability.
Perhaps it is simply being on the same schedule.
There are certain things I can count on each morning.
There are certain people I expect to see.

Even though I am walking and they are driving, we see each other.
It is getting to the point that we can count on seeing each other.
I can guess what time it is by the people that drive by me.
We are part of each other’s morning routines.

I see the moms who drive their children to school.
I see the people who are going to the gym.
I see the ones who are driving to work.
I see the school buses picking up the children.

Depending on which one passes me, I know the time within a few minutes.
Sometimes, I walk a bit later for one reason or another.
However, if I am on my usual schedule, I will see these people in succession.
Even the bus drivers and I wave to each other each day.

When I rounded the corner, I saw the dog on the front lawn.
His owners had just passed me on the road.
First the husband waved and a few minutes later, the wife passed by me.
She had one of her children in the front seat.

I had not seen them leave their driveway.
I saw them as they drove down the street toward the main road.
Their dog was standing at attention.
He glanced my way but never barked, since he is used to seeing me each morning.

That dog did not move a muscle.
That dog was looking in the direction their cars had driven.
That dog was looking intently toward the corner.
That dog was waiting.

I passed the dog and went around the cul-de-sac and passed him again.
I did my second mile and turned the corner.
The dog was still there.
The dog was still standing at attention, still looking towards the corner.

The dog wanted to catch a glimpse of their cars as they drove back home.
I could only imagine the tail wagging.
I could only imagine the excitement.
Nothing could have deterred that dog from patiently waiting for his master to return.

My son’s dog does the same thing.
When my son and his wife went to a wedding, they left the dog with us.
We have a gate that keeps her in the family room and the kitchen.
Even though she knows us and loves to be here, she never left the gate.

She just stared in the direction of the laundry room door.
That is the way they left because there is a door that leads to the garage in the laundry room.
Her favorite toy did not distract her.
Her favorite bone, on which she likes to chew, was still on the floor.

She waited and watched.
She whimpered a few times.
After quite a while she laid down on her special blanket.
She was restless and kept looking up at the slightest sound.

Whenever I have helped in the nursery at church, I have seen the same thing.
Children will look in the direction of the door, hoping their mother will return.
When they see their mother’s face, their joy exudes from their toes.
They squeal in delight and reach out their hands for their mother to pick them up.

There is something about anticipation.
Waiting too long for something can actually be discouraging.
Waiting is not easily understood.
Waiting seems unfair and unjust at times.

God is in the waiting.

People wait for their spouse to come along.
People wait for the pregnancy test to be positive.
People wait to see if they got the mortgage on their house.
People wait to see if that elusive job is finally theirs.

God is in the waiting.

For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope–the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good. These, then, are the things you should teach. Encourage and rebuke with all authority. Do not let anyone despise you. (Titus 2:11-15)

We could take a lesson from the dog I saw on my walk.
Nothing distracted him while he was waiting for his master to return.
Nothing that is dangled in front of my son’s dog can deter her from watching the door.
Nothing but the face of a mother will satisfy a waiting child.

How eagerly are we waiting for Jesus to return?
Are we keeping watch?
Are we anticipating His glorious return, even though we do not know the day or the hour?
Are we easily distracted as we keep our eyes heavenward?

Jesus gave this command to His disciples.
Keep watch!
Are we waiting with joyful anticipation or constant distraction?
However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth? (Luke 18:8)

Will the Son of Man find faith on earth when He returns?
Will we be waiting with the same resolve as the dog waiting for his master?
Will we exude joy from our toes when we see Jesus return to earth?
Will we reach out our hands for Him to pick us up and carry us in His arms?

We are not to do nothing as we wait.
We are to make Jesus known so that others can wait for Him, too.
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. (Romans 12:12)
How well are we waiting?