Waiting For Teddy

My oldest daughter had a teddy bear she simply called, Teddy.
Teddy was very loved and went everywhere with her.
Teddy’s long arms and legs made him look more like a monkey.
His stuffing was flattened from many nights of cuddling.

His nose was barely visible and the red heart that was on his chest had fallen off.
My daughter sucked her thumb as a toddler and would hold Teddy close to her face.
The point of his foot was held precariously close to her nose as her thumb was in her mouth.
Teddy fell on the grass, sat in the mulch, and was put in a bike basket.

Teddy never left her side, so the hope of washing Teddy was very slim.
I tried to spot clean him a few times, but his damp fur was not pleasant to her.
There was no way to get Teddy in the washing machine, since he was a forever companion.
Then my husband an idea.

There was a little mud at the end of the driveway where the grass had worn a bit.
He decided that he would throw Teddy in the air and catch him to her squeals of laughter.
Then, the last time, Teddy would not be caught.
Instead, Teddy fell into the little bit of mud.

He was not that dirty.
He could have been spot cleaned, but I told my daughter that Teddy desperately needed a bath.
She wanted to wait in the laundry room, but tiredness got the best of her.
I told her that Teddy would be ready for more hugs in the morning.

I wondered if sleep would allude her without her precious Teddy?
The life of a toddler is quite busy and sleep won the battle of the wills.
The next morning, she found Teddy in her bed, ready for a morning hug.
There was such joy on her face as she came downstairs with Teddy in her arms.

My three-year-old granddaughter sleeps with her Teddy.
Her sister has a piggy and her brother has a monkey.
Teddy is her friend and a companion.
This little one is so much like her Aunt in her affection for her Teddy.

All this came to my memory when my daughter sent a picture.
It was priceless.
It is a current picture but it might as well have been taken years ago.
The position and posture of my daughter and granddaughter was the same.

My granddaughter was waiting for her Teddy.
She was kneeling in front of the washing machine waiting for Teddy to get clean.
I could feel her anticipation as she watched Teddy tumble among the other clothes.
I imagined her parking herself there until the washer stopped…but then he would have to dry.

Isn’t it funny how one little thing reminds you of something else?
My granddaughter waiting for her Teddy was like my daughter many years before.
The picture of eagerness on the part of my granddaughter challenged me.
Am I waiting that eagerly for the Lord Jesus to return?

Jesus promised that He is coming back.
He is coming for His Bride.
He is preparing a place for us.
His Word is true.

Do I have that same eagerness in my countenance?
Am I waiting with anticipation for that day?
That day may or may not come in my lifetime.
However, do I expect it with eagerness and anticipation?

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them.“Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.” (Acts 1:8-11)

Can you picture it?
The Lord Jesus ascended and the apostles stared up into the sky for His return.
The apostles were reminded that Jesus would come back just as He said.
In the meantime, they had work to do: to be His witnesses to the ends of the earth.

We have work to do while we wait.
Let’s be eager with anticipation but keep pressing on until that day.
We do not know when that day will be but we know it will happen just as He said.
In the meantime…we wait.