Eagerly Waiting

This has been a week of constantly looking at my phone to see if a text has come, or opening my email to see if there is a message, or incessantly perusing Facebook for any new information about "Tiny Tiny". Tiny Tiny is the nickname that my son Joshua has given to their unborn baby. S/he is trying to make his entrance into the world a little ahead of schedule. Everything began last week when Alison's water broke 6 weeks early. They went to the hospital, she spent the night, went home the next day, and is now waiting for the joyous event to arrive. I suspect that she is talking to the baby trying to coax the little girl to make his grand entrance.

I suspect it is a girl since she said she was coming and decided to make you wait. Of course, it could be a boy who opened the door and got distracted by something shiny and has forgotten what he originally was going to do. Either way the parents’ world (and grandparents') has been put on hold hovering around the whims of this little baby. I am sure that Joshua is trying to work but would rather be at home with the family.

This waiting, of course got me thinking about Romans 8:22-24, "For we know the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. And not only this, but also we ourselves having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies."

We are eagerly waiting. There is a sense of excitement and anticipation in this wait. There is pain, there is discomfort, there is a constant onslaught of inconvenience, but when you have the hope of what is to come all that proceeds it is small in comparison. We are constantly looking for signs of Jesus' coming and some have even made guesses to the exact date. And though these predictions can be embarrassing if not true they are indications of a deeper desire to see our Savior return and bring about the consummation of the ages. We wait, eagerly, impatiently, with hope and all these troubles and sorrows are the birth pangs that bring about the birth of a new age. There will be joy in the morning.

Each of us bears under the stresses of this world in different ways, but none of us has to do it alone. Some labor is quick and easy and others is hard and prolonged. As a community we walk and wait with each other to strengthen, encourage, and endure until the blessed day arrives. The saddest stories are people who chose to walk in pain alone too proud or embarrassed to bring their pain to light. What joy and encouragement are those who extend the opportunities of the body of Christ to serve and comfort in times of hardship. We suffer these pains together.

Joshua posted, "The church is alive and well in Bahrain." In there time of waiting the community of believers they are fellowshipping with are helping to watch Eva (their daughter), help Alison around the house, and pray for the safe delivery of Tiny Tiny. They are not walking this alone. For us as grandparents we wish we could be there, but rejoice that God has provided an extended family who love and care for them. Tiny Tiny hurry up there are people who want to play with you. I'm just saying......