This may be the most popular question parents will hear over the next few weeks. Yes new parents, trust me. If your kid can so much as form four words, these are the words they will be uttering repeatedly. Is it time to open presents? Is it time for Santa? Is it time to go? Is it time to get up? And so on and so on until your ears bleed. Yes it can happen.
Now that my kids are older you’d think I would no longer hear this question. Wrong. My dear 16 year old son wants to open his new game system. You know the one that he begged for and was no where to be found in any store, yet he’s SO certain he will get it because he wants it really bad. Of course he also worked to butter me up with praises and affirmations. Layin’ it on thick I believe my mama would say.
After a difficult quest, I secured said prized, elusive gaming system and prided myself on doing so. I carefully tucked it away in my secret present hiding spot until it could be wrapped and placed lovingly under the tree. After doing battle with fellow shoppers to acquire a coveted gift like that, the one thing I look forward to is that cherished moment when the child pulls off the ribbon, rips off the paper, tears open the box and sees that very thing their heart so greatly desired. That… is satisfaction. That…is my gift.
That is unless aforementioned child peaks ahead of time. And confesses. Then, just like that…poof… moment b-l-o-w-n. The surprise is no longer. The anticlimactic feeling of looking at your child and hearing “I know you got it Mom.” Ouch. Heart sinking, jaw dropping kick in the gut. UGH.
Yes I may be a bit dramatic. But if you’ve ever shopped for a gift for someone, you know the anticipation surrounding the moment they will open the box and scream with delight. By peaking and opening the box too soon, the joy of the precious moment is lost. Oh sure the gift is still there. But it was not presented the way it was intended. The timing was off and timing is everything.
Timing is everything.
Have you ever rushed to get to something you were so sure God wanted to give you only to mess up the whole thing? I have.When we get ahead of God, we lessen the impact of what He wants to do for us. The timing is off and timing is everything.
I know…. I’m inpatient too. And waiting is hard. However if we jump out ahead of God’s clock, not only will we miss what He is trying to do in that moment, but we can ruin the next one, the one He has planned that is His best for us. Several times in my life I thought I knew what the Lord was planning for me so I stepped in to “help”. You know, to speed things up a bit. Yes, I’m still learning. There is a time for everything and His timing is perfect.
What is He preparing you for? What could await you if you simply wait on Him?
A Time for Everything
There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
yep, a good one. I love your posts.
Thank you!
Good reminder 🙂 thanks for sharing! Oh how timing is indeed everything… often times I rush ahead planning this and that, and God just says “not now” or “wait.” How many times I wish I had just listened to that still small voice. Sometimes I think He is running late but no, I am just too early. It is humbling, but if we just wait in Him and trust Him with it, we find His timing is perfect. 🙂 thanks again for the lovely reminder!
I couldn’t agree more! Thank you for your comment!