As we enter Advent – the season of waiting – I have been reading scriptures that speak of the wait for the Messiah, the one who would save the world, scriptures that speak of our wait for our Lord’s return.   Examining my life I realized I do a lot of waiting – but what am I waiting for?

Banana curls just like Shirley Temple

First, as a little girl I waited:

• to learn to read the “big” books.
• to be able to jump rope
• for Santa Claus to come

Don’t you just love the hairstyle?

Then, as a young high school graduate I waited:

• to find a job
• to meet “Mr Right” and be married

Home on leave just before going to Vietnam my Marine asked me to be his wife

When he came along, then I waited:

• for the day we could say “I do”
• to have my own home
• to be a mother

The major joy of my life – precious gifts from God

After my girls were born I waited:

• to see them grow up
• to see them married and with a family
• to someday be a grandmother

This grandson, who never met his grandfather, is so much like him

After my husband was killed in an accident, I waited again:

• wondering if the pain would ever go away
• wondering how I would raise my girls alone
• wondering if there could be happiness again for me

Thankful for this man who brought joy once again to me

When God took my pain (but never the precious memories I will always keep in my heart and treasure), I waited again:

• for our blended family to become one
• to grow old with this man

I lost my beautiful red hair – but now I wear a wig so I’m still a fiery redhead

Then cancer came and I waited:

• to recover from surgery and aggressive treatment
• to get my hair back
• to get past that 10 year mark of survival
• to reach retirement

I spent so much of my life waiting for things in the “here and now.”  Spending so much effort and hope and time anticipating for my future in this life.

That is certainly not wrong.  God made us to enjoy this life and all of the things I waited for were good and blessings from God – job, family, health.

But as I reflect on the scriptures that speak of waiting, I realize the most important thing I should be anticipating and waiting for are not those things in the “here and now” but the hope of what is to come when the “here and now” is over.

I can only imagine what this moment will be like

At this Advent season – this time of waiting and hoping – I wait for

See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are! But the people who belong to this world don’t recognize that we are God’s children because they don’t know him.² Dear friends, we are already God’s children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is…1 John 3:1-2

For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people.  And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God, while we look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed….Titus 2:11-13

But we are looking forward to the new heavens and new earth he has promised, a world filled with God’s righteousness…2 Peter 3:18

As we celebrate this season of waiting, anticipating – I ask you, what are you waiting for?