Waiting At The Window

I was heading over to my daughter’s house after lunch.
I was going to be staying there for a few hours while she went out for a bit.
I knew that only my oldest granddaughter would be up and about.
Her sister and brother would be napping this time of day.

I drove onto the street and turned up her driveway.
There she was.
My granddaughter was waiting for me in the front window.
She was waving furiously as I pulled up to the garage doors.

What a welcome, I said out loud in my car though no one was with me.
Her greeting made my day.
I needed that greeting, since I was struggling with an ear infection and did not feel myself.
Something about a grandchild waiting for you and waving furiously, brings so much joy.

I went inside and, after hugs, I was shown a game that was laid out on the dining room table.
I knew that we would be playing that game after her mommy left.
We had the same game many years ago, though this was a newer version.
There were rings, necklaces, bracelets, earrings, and a crown to be gotten on each turn.

I knew that the one who wore all the pieces would win.
For a while, it looked like it might be me, but there is the dreaded purple ring.
When you land on that space, it doesn’t matter what other pieces you are wearing.
I knew how I must have looked, had I glanced in a mirror.

However, to an almost five-year-old, Grandma is beautiful wearing those accessories.
I allowed my granddaughter to put the plastic earrings on me.
Since I was already wearing my own earrings, her placement left something to be desired.
I never recovered from landing on the dreaded purple ring space; my granddaughter won.

After some time together and after reading a book, she wanted to go upstairs.
Since her sister was asleep in the room they share, she goes into the guest room.
It is quiet time where she can read, play, and imagine for an hour or so.
She and I read the next chapter in a chapter book they are reading and I kissed her forehead.

I welcomed the time by myself, since my ear was still bothering me.
My hearing in that one ear is a bit muffled, until the middle ear infection clears.
The monitors were on: I heard nothing from two of them and imaginative play from the other.
I put my feet up and closed my eyes on a glorious spring day.

I was thinking about my granddaughter waiting for me at the window.
I was thinking about how much window waiting many of us do on a daily basis.
I remember waiting at the window as my children walked to the bus stop.
There was always that one last wave before they reached the corner.

I remember waiting at the window for the rain to stop or the snow to fall.
I remember waiting at the window when company was expected.
I remember waiting at the window when guests were arriving for a birthday party.
I remember waiting at the window for my husband when I was miscarrying a baby.

I had two little toddlers and was pregnant again.
Something was not quite right.
This pregnancy was not like the other two.
I knew I was losing the baby, but had to be upbeat for my little girls so they would not be afraid.

To see the headlights of my husband’s car pull into the driveway was such a relief.
I did lose that precious baby quite early in the pregnancy.
God blessed us with three more children after the child we lost.
I can still see myself waiting at the window that February evening.

Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains. (James 5:7)

Waiting is not easy.
However, the object of our wait can change our perspective.
I would love to have the exuberance and enthusiasm of my granddaughter when I wait.
Sometimes, circumstances make that very difficult.

But God…always God, can change our perspective.
God can turn mourning into dancing.
God can turn ashes into beauty.
God can change waiting into fulfillment.

One day, after all our waiting, Jesus will return.
One day, every eye will see Him.
Those of us who long for His coming will be exuberant, waving furiously at the first glance.
Those who have turned their back on Him, will try to hide from the only One who could save.

Wait on the Lord.
Wave furiously when you see the first glimpse of Him.
He is near.
He is coming back.

Maranatha.