Today has been a day of routine waiting. From the moment my feet hit the floor, it’s been full speed ahead, pushing the various duties of my life through the motions and then some more. It’s not been bad … just full.
In the midst of my commotion, God gave me a couple of moments. Moments I would have missed had I not been waiting. As I consider them now, they seem a better trade for the stress of my waiting.
First, I met Jenny and her infant daughter, Lily Ann. Like me, they were waiting in the office of a local oral surgeon. I was waiting for a consult with the doctor; they were waiting for “husband and dad” to emerge from his wisdom teeth surgery. After perusing magazines for over an hour, I finally put down the “Good Housekeeping” and made my way over to the couch where they were sitting.
Lily Ann was a delight. At six months old, she coos and smiles at the top her game. I couldn’t escape her drool or big blue eyes. Her mother, Jenny, was quite eager for me to engage with her beautiful daughter. At just twenty years of age, Jenny could have easily been my daughter. We talked and laughed and shared a couch for a good thirty minutes before her being called to pick up her husband at the side door of the building.
Prior to her departure, I told her about our church; she told me that since moving to the area five months ago (they are a military family from Athens, GA), she and her husband have been “looking” for a church. She grew up Baptist; I grew up Methodist, and when she asked me if we were close to being the “same,” I assured her that we were—that, in fact, God doesn’t look at our denominations. God looks at our hearts. I passed her my card, and we parted as friends.
One moment I would have missed had I not been waiting.
Moment two came on the floor of a local resale shop. My son was trying on clothes for his upcoming trip to Bolivia. I was contemplating my tired when a woman emerged from the double doors at the back of the shop. She made her way over to me and asked for my opinion about the two objects she held in her hands.
One was a polka-dotted cookie jar; one was an ornate flower vase, blue with gold etching. With some hesitancy, she stated her request…
“Which one do you think will hold more sand?”
“Excuse me, sand? What are using this for?”
“Well, my brother died yesterday; we’re having him cremated and will be taking him to the river to scatter his ashes. Which one do you think might work better?”
“Tell me what you think and then tell me something about your brother.”
And with that, the floodgates opened as Geneva spent the next fifteen minutes describing to me the events of the previous twenty-four hours. Bill died in his wheelchair while talking with a friend at his assisted living facility. Dead at the age of sixty-two without warning, leaving behind at least one grieving sister who was in search of his “casket” in a resale shop.
I hugged Geneva, told her I would be praying for her throughout the day and then encouraged her to leave the cookie jar and vase behind and head to “Michael’s” for her purchase. If I could, I would have gone with her, but this was not my journey to make. This was simply a divine moment given to me in order to “enter into” someone else’s pain.
One moment I would have missed had I not been waiting.
Jenny, her daughter Lily Ann, and Geneva. Three of God’s precious children waiting for me on the road of life today. I am not surprised by their arrival to my world; instead, I am profoundly thankful for the sacred intersection that allowed me a few moments of connection between my heart and theirs. What a privilege and blessing it was to be able to seed some comfort and love on behalf of the kingdom. God will do with it what he will; I am content to leave the outcome in his best-intentioned hands.
Moments. Split fragments of time that call for our notice and our willingness to engage with the heart of God’s people. We may not see them coming, but when they arrive, may we all have the good sense and the kingdom perspective to call them worthy of our attention and intervention.
Perhaps this day, you’ve known a “wait.” If not, I’m fairly confident that one is on your way. What you do with that “wait” is up to you. As for me, I’d rather spend it on behalf of a people who need to know the lavish love of my exceedingly good God. And while I don’t relish a long lingering in the doctor’s office or an unscheduled stop at the resale shop, I pause today to consider what I would have missed by not receiving their requirement.
I think this day better lived because of them; I think my heart all the more.
Live your moments like you mean them, friends. Make them count for something more than what they seem. As always,
What wonderful "wait" moments!
I love those "wait" moments God gives us. I have learned to pay attention and watch for those moments (most times) 🙂 Responding to Him in those moments… just He wants us to do!
Beautiful Elaine. I love how God touched their lives through you..and in return you were blessed.
"He who refreshes others will himself be refreshed." Proverbs 11:25
“Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away”
Thanks for seeing those moments as you waited today and sharing them with us,
Joy
Oh Elaine,
This was just incredible!!! I used to joke about writing a book called, "While I Was Waiting"…
After spending so much time in doctors offices with my son Jordan I met so many people and had many stories to share.
I love when you said:
Moments. Split fragments of time that call for our notice and our willingness to engage with the heart of God’s people. We may not see them coming, but when they arrive, may we all have the good sense and the kingdom perspective to call them worthy of our attention and intervention.
I once heard a preacher say, the greatest miracles Jesus performed where the ones that came as interruptions. They were unplanned, as He was on the way to do something else!
Thanks for seizing all your moments well today.
I know 3 people were glad you did♥
Sorry I had a typo…lol.
Some of my very best moments in life have been in these situations. I'm glad you posted about it. Was thinking about this very issue y'day when I sat in wait for my mammogram tapping away on my blackberry. Then I had to wait again for the diagnostic results & decide to look up and around. Had the opportunity to help a lady go from mad & cranky to laughing about our crammogram experience in our pink capes. 30 mins later, she was dismissed, while I was asked to come back for a biopsy. She stopped and looked so concerned, and I told her that I was at peace, that I had a great big God to trust in. She gave me a hug. It was special.
I wonder what would've been different if I had kept my face in my blackberry twittering & texting. It would've been a seed unplanted & a hug missed. It may have even been a nurse or a manager yelled at. I know for sure I would've missed out on an extra measure of blessing in my heart.
Elaine… refreshing, so refreshing… thanks for taking the time to post about it… for being authentic and sharing about how God used you in the midst of your wait. I think often we, as women, do not realize the profound impact we can have with one conversation… and we denounce ourselves as if we accomplished nothing that day… when it was really everything to that one.
Oh Elaine, this was wonderful! I love meeting people at the right moment and your wait was well worth it! I'm glad you are the kind of peson who people feel comfortable sharing with.
Elaine,
Your "waits" were divine appointments indeed. I'm saddened for the loss of Geneva's brother. As one who buried my brother in 1994 when he was at the young age of 23, I can certainly understand her pain to some degree.
I too was raised Methodist. Actually A.M.E. (African Methodist Episcopal) and later non- Denomination. I agree with you when you said, "God doesn’t look at our denominations. God looks at our hearts." That is SO TRUE! Sadly so often Christians focus on debating about denominations and bible versions rather than on relationship with Christ and one another. I think neither is as important as relationship with Jesus Christ and drawing others to the Lord.
I was so blessed in our talk today. Too short but a blessing. My daughter said, "Mommy whoever that was she sure made you smile" I said, "She's a beautiful woman God uses to enrich my life".
That's for sure.
Love you.
Excellent! Indeed God's appointments are often obscured, lest the seeing eye acknowledges them (often with 20/20 hindsight!).
What a great reminder for us to seize every second of every minute to live (and yes, wait) intentionally!
Hugs,
Kathleen
Interludes of goodness in the land of your living. We should all learn to tarry in the presence of another. We would all be the better for it.
Shalom,
Denise
i certainly wouldn't have expected Geneva's answer…
there are so many cremation stories from different people
i'm glad your intersections came together so wonderfully 🙂
Beautiful Elaine! You are allways a blessing to me!
Just came across your blog yesterday. Now, I'm "hooked." What a beautiful post! I'm still learning this to wait. It's so easy to get caught up in my own busyness and miss out on these type of blessings. Thanks for the reminder.
God bless you today!
You just bless my socks off.
You beautiful, awesome lady. You sure looked like Jesus today.
:)Laura
You know, I always pray that God will place people as divine appointments into the lives of my boys. Those divine, defining moments have a profound impact in our lives. There's no doubt that you impacted the lives of those women today!
Blessings to you…and lots of love, too.
Elaine, as always, your words pierce right through my heart! So eloquent and so powerful! They are, dear friend, words to live by.
I think of all the times I have spent waiting in my impatience. I am not a good waiter. I am always ready to get on with whatever else I need to do or wherever else I need to go.
But thank God for His waiting. And hank God for His patience.
I am going to pray for more awareness and sensitivity to the Holy Spirit for those times I am waiting, always remembering this lovely story of yours.
God, indeed, orders all our steps.
Again, beautiful. Blessings to you.
Andrea
My heart is full after reading this. May we ALL be faithful to our wait moments and may He grant us the eyes to see how He is weaving them all together. What a beautiful tapestry He is making!
I've been thinking a lot about how these "waiting moments" in our lives have the power to affect lives for the better. For the more. For the King.
You said it beautifully. As you always do.
What wonderful stories, Elaine — divine appointments really. I'm glad you sensed them and entered in.
Most times, things like this slip right by me, I'm afraid. Too programmed to kind of "keep my distance" out in the public. This is something I need to work on…
Elaine,
This was just wonderful what you shared here. Waiting in the God moments. When we surrender instead of resist, everyone in the moment is blessed.
A good reminder to use the "moments" God gives us. I've had those moments as well; I'm trying to be more aware of those opportunities–while on a plane, at a family gathering, etc.
Thanks for sharing your moments. Donna
How wonderful that you were open to these moments Elaine! You are a beautiful example to all of us. I will be keeping watch today for "wait" moments of my own. Thank you so much for sharing this!!
Touching moments. An exchange of God's grace in the "wait."
I really ought to "wait" more.
😉
Wow Elaine. That sounds like my waits. I love when God uses me like this. Praise the Lord. Dear Father God, I pray that all my waits would be for Your glory. Thank You for using Elaine's post to reach out to the world. Thank You for Elaine's friendship. I pray that we continue to be blessed by you through each other. In Jesus' name, amen.
God is in the details and in the waiting…
He truly does direct our paths…
Beautiful Post!
Rebecca
Responding to that nudge while waiting is sometimes a struggle because it means we must put oursevles out there. I am so blessed by your awareness of what is going on around you. That you are not self absorbed, closing yourself as not to be pulled away, but open to what opportunities God is going to offer up to use YOU!! Did I mention you amaze me. It's testament to your spirit as you are overloaded with responsibilites you still take a moment to extend yourself a little more.
I LOVE that you took advantage of these "wait" moments, and I will pray that I will do the same. Convicting, encouraging post.
wifeforthejourney:
How the Lord does work in and through our waiting. "Wasted" time really happens when we are in too big of a hurry to consider what God is doing in our "now." When we are looking for opportunities to connect with others, not only does time pass quicker, we find blessings we might otherwise miss.
Thanks for letting this post be such an honest journal of your Wednesday!
Love,
Billy
This is such a beautiful post Elaine. God is so awesome at how he uses us earthly vessels to display his unfailing love for us. I'm sure your tender heart caused them all to melt. They couldn't help but see Jesus through you. These are perfect examples of how we let our light shine!
This truly made my heart smile today! Thanks for sharing your day with us!
Blessings,
Kennisha
So thankful the Lord used you to touch the lives of those you came in contact with…even for a "moment." I appreciate your faithfulness to minister to others in His name!
By the way, I just finished "Finding An Unseen God"–I think I remember reading here that you read it and in one sitting? That's just what I did. So beautifully written, giving me much to ponder…
This was lovely. We become so entrenched in our lives that sometimes (often times, for me) we fail to notice the people God has brought into our path. Thank you for the reminder and for stopping at my place to encourage me, today.
Elaine,
We never know what our moments may hold. Or if we'll notice them when they happen.
Wonderful stories. Extraordinary among the ordinary. How like God.
We are all knit together in an amazing tapestry, aren't we?
I haven't been by in a little while and it's wonderful to visit again. I missed you!
That was beautiful…I love your blog…and always enjoy reading it.
I am still finding my way around blogland..
I am posting about Disney so hope you will stop by. Commenting automatically puts you in the drawing for the June giveaway.
That is cool, that you got to meet those people, Mrs. Elaine. I think it is neat that God uses us like that to reach others. Divine appointments:)
Blessings to you!
katiegfromtennessee
How sweet. How encouragening to look for those God moments…you so bless me my friend. Even more, you bless Him!!
Really busy with my summer teaching but it ends in June and I hope to be back with the living!
Cont' to pray for my daughter. She chooses to walk a fine line. Nothing ever came of the ministry potential..no meeting…we are baffled.
Blessings! Pamela
I'm so thankful the Lord has allowed our paths to cross Elaine. You are a sweet encouragement to me to change the way I look at the waiting opportunities in my life.
understanding we start Heaven upon our acceptance of his love, Grace and our Salvation…
Happy Heavenly Day to you!!
I've popped over from the lovely Kristen's page (Dancing in the Margins). My 'waits' are usually spent reading a book and catching up on Bible study; they should now include interacting with those around me and sharing God's love with them, instead of just expanding on my own.
Elaine, this really spoke to me. Thank you! I need to be waiting like this and not only be thinking about the next thing or whatever it is that I need to think through.
Thanks so much!
Hugs!
I've been praying about this waiting thing.
About opportunities. Seeing them with His eyes. Hearing them like He hears. Loving others like He loves.
About the lost. Sharing the Savior with them.
About fear. That I will not.
About faith. That I will step out.
Thank you for writing this article. I needed to read it.