Picnic, anyone?

I just had to take a little break from our Vegas recounts, and share the cool thing that happened to us today.

Many times we read or hear about a Biblical concept, like loving your neighbor or waiting for God's timing, and we say confidently, "Yes. I get that." Or if we're feeling extremely whiny, "Moses got a burning bush. Why can't I have something visual, like that?"

Well, today I got a "burning bush" :-)

It was an absolutely stunning day in Portland, my favorite kind of weather: warm but not too warm~~80 degrees, blue skies, a little breeze. Kyra & I had no specific plans today, so we were just going to hang out and enjoy the beautiful day.

On top of that, our back lawn was mowed recently, so the yard was just begging for a picnic. Kyra also hasn't spent a lot of time in our backyard, because 9 months out of the year, it's a swampy, squishy puddle--we have the lowest point in the neighborhood. In fact, when our subdivision was being built, our house was one of the last to be built, and all the neighbor kids used to come and play in our yard, as it had the best mud puddles.

So, the concept of being in the backyard, and having a picnic there, was a whole new experience for her, but one she seemed excited about.

Unfortunately, in order to get everything ready so we could eat, I had to put her in her crib--contained and safe. Needless to say, this did not go over very well, and she promptly burst into tears. You would have thought I was being the most horrible parent ever, by the weeping and gnashing of teeth that came from her room.

So, I quickly pulled together our little lunch, and went to free her. On the way there, I called out, "An Invitation for Miss Kyra to join me in the backyard for a yummy picnic and fun!"

And that's when it hit me. This is exactly what God does with us, when we encounter what I like to call "postponed desires". We know about the promise, we're excited to see it & experience it, but then He says, "Wait. I need to prepare everything so it will be ready for you. If you come too early, you could get hurt, or it might not be as great as I know it can be." But all we see in our "cribs" or waiting places, is the disappointment, the confusion, the "I want it now!".

If I had let Kyra come out to the backyard before everything was ready, there was the risk that something would have been overlooked, and thus our wonderful picnic ruined. So, although it was hard for Kyra to wait, and she might have even thought she was being punished, I believe it was worth it for her in the end.

In the same way, when we want something so badly, be it a child, a new job, a house, a repaired relationship with someone, and God says, "Wait", we often think He has abandoned us. In reality, He's just working out all the details, so when it does come together, it may not look like what we originally asked for, but I guarantee it will be 100x better than we could ever have dreamed.

Waiting is never fun, but if we're waiting on God, and seeking His will, He will never let us down. And He may even surprise us!

Blessings, K~