What do you do when you are longing for a dream? Do you sit and idle the time away? Do you watch the clock and desperately mark off calendar days? It may seem like nothing else matters if we can't have the dream. Everything else feels worthless without the one thing we are hoping for. There are times to sit and let yourself be sad. We are only human, not superheros. But is there something we can do in the difficult waiting?
Instead of focusing on what you can't do, focus on what you can do. I can't plant my garden, build a fenced in yard for the dogs, or enjoy a deck now. But I can start seeds now so I can transplant them outside when it's warm enough. I can read gardening books or peruse seed catalogs and websites, to decide what I'm ordering for seeds vs. plants. (Side note: There's these blue potatoes I'm super excited to try this year! And dragon carrots! That's a carrot even my kids get excited about. Dragons....who wouldn't get excited?) And I can work on our kitchen and school room projects. We'll obviously
need those rooms even when it's nice out, so I might as well finish them now while I'm waiting to be able to work outside.
Perhaps it's a friend or family member I can't spend time with now. I only see my brother and his family twice a year, but I can send video messages, social media messages, and texts to maintain frequent contact. I can make sure the time we do have together is intentional and special. I can also invest in near-by-friends who feel like family, the same as I would want others who live near my family to invest in them.
Sometimes it's easy to get consumed by what we can't have now, that we miss what we do have. (see my previous blog post for more explanation) There are so many opportunities to love people and invest in them all around us. Sometimes I feel useless in this small child stage of life, and that people must think bad of me for not volunteering to help with a lot of group projects. Realistically, it's just not possible to visit sick people in hospitals, or visit older people in homes with lots of breakable things. I can't help much with projects, when I'm trying to keep toddlers from running off. But I can pray for people. I can bring meals or send cards. I can check on them to see how a big event went in their week.
Most importantly, I must make sure I am ready when that dream comes true. Imagine if the captain of the ship ordered the anchor raised, and the sails made ready to leave, but the crew hadn't packed their stuff or gathered provisions for the journey yet. In Matthew 25, Jesus tells the parable of the 10 virgins waiting for the bridegroom to come. They knew he was coming and they eagerly anticipated this 'dream' coming true. But only 5 made sure they were ready by purchasing extra oil for their lamps. The other 5 were caught unprepared, and missed the wedding feast. I want my ship to be prepped for sailing when my captain tells me to lift anchor.
What can we do to prepare ourselves, our surroundings, or others? Make a list today. If "_____" were to happen today, what would I need to have ready? Who do I need to talk to? What do I need to learn first?
The story is told of a mom who often gave jobs to her kids as they waited for supper to be cooked. The hungry, whining kids were given jobs of setting the table, putting away groceries, cleaning the kitchen etc. The idea was to 'be busy while you wait'.
Whether we are waiting for Jesus's return (how exciting that will be!), to see a family member or friend, an exciting trip/adventure, or simply spring to come.....there is much we can do. Let's 'be busy while we wait', and not be caught unprepared when our captain calls us to sail.
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