I think we all encounter life lessons we don’t grasp. My recurring lessons seem to revolve around patience (or lack thereof.) Time and again, I am presented with opportunities that try, test, and stretch my patience- and each time, I immediately look for loopholes.
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers had it right: the waiting is the hardest part.
We live in a ‘now’ society where instant gratification is expected. Don’t have the money to buy something? Forget about saving money and then making the purchase; just charge it. Find something online, but don’t want to wait ten days for shipping? For a price, FedEx can put it in your hands the next day. Have a story you want people to read? Skip the queries and self-publish. You get the idea.
Sometimes waiting is necessary- even good for me. The wait is the ‘pause’ button for the hectic grind of daily life where I can see the beauty of friendship and the power of prayer. The wait reminds me that things I take for granted are actually gifts. When I leave my worries at God’s feet in prayer and trust the outcome to Him, I feel some peace that there is purpose in a situation for which I have no control.
I experienced all of this last week when my older son’s visit to urgent care turned into several hours in the hospital ER. A quick call to my best friend asking her to include us in her prayers turned into a response later that evening that she had several people praying for us. Another phone call gave me someone to watch my younger son (my Dad) and my Mom’s support as she waited with us.
We’re still waiting on test results for a condition I cannot pronounce (Glomerulonephritis). Whether it’s the answer to the question of what’s wrong, I don’t know.
I could dwell on the diagnosis (or the absence of one), but instead, I choose to recognize the blessing of the wait. Without the wait, I wouldn’t have felt the outpouring of support, which felt like God’s arm around my shoulders telling me it’s going to be okay.
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When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. (Psalm 56:3)
Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all. (2Thessalonians 3:16)
JannaTWrites 
We’ll be thinking about your boy and praying for positive news! You’re right. Waiting is excruciating sometimes but absolutely necessary for others.
Thanks, Tori. Of course the waiting involved a weekend (I think that’s one of Murphy’s Laws.) I appreciate the thoughts prayers 🙂
Waiting for some things is easier than for others ~ I’m pretty patient, but waiting for a prognosis and diagnosis is difficult.
I read through the link . . . and hope that your son’s condition is temporary and resolved in short order. Best wishes to you all as you wait.
At least you have some patience, Nancy. I’m not patient, regardless of what I’m waiting for 🙂 I hope it is temporary as well. We’re encouraged by initial results of a second set of tests, but he’s still has something going on.
It’s so wierd – our minister was just preaching on the concept of waiting during Advent this morning. My prayers are with you and your son!
Oh, that is strange how that coincided with this post, Jennie! I appreciate your prayers as we wait for more information.
Prayers and peace to you and yours Janna. Yes, waiting is the hardest part, in part because it is an essential part.
We are expecting a call tomorrow, but I’m trying to prepare myself that it will probably be right before their office closes 🙂 I appreciate your prayers, Agjorgenson.
Beautiful post and I’m sorry this is happening to your family. Prayers to you.
Thanks, APAN, I’m glad you liked the post. I appreciate you stopping by!
Oh, Janna, as a mom, I just can’t imagine having to wait through something like this. We so often take for granted the good health of ourselves and our loved ones. I’ll add your son to my prayer list and hope that if that long thing is what he has, it will be temporary and leave no ill effects. Blessings to you and yours, my friend. And don’t worry — God understands and is holding your son in His Arms right now!
I appreciate you keeping us in your prayers, Debbie. When we followed up with our regular doctor later in the week, I found out that he shouldn’t have ibuprofen or soda pop. Soda pop isn’t a big deal since we don’t buy it and he doesn’t have it very often. The ibuprofen scared me because the ER sent home written instructions to give it to him every 6 hours for pain. Good thing I didn’t follow directions very well- he only got one dose (when he complained of pain.) Turns out ibuprofen could have damaged his kidneys more.
It is hard not to worry, but I like the idea of him being in God’s hands right now 🙂
I’m not a good waiter either, Janna. Patience is not one of my accomplished virtues. It’s still a seed waiting to sprout in me. I’m praying for your son that this will heal quickly for him. Blessings to you…
I think you’re more accomplished at waiting than you give yourself credit for, Carol Ann 🙂 Thanks for your prayers…we hope this is an acute condition as well.
I will be thinking about you and praying for you all.
Thanks so much, Tessa. I appreciate your support.
It does seem that God tests us in areas where we are weakest, or where He wants us to get stronger, rather. 🙂
I hope your son is well. I am praying for him and your family. God bless you.
Oh, lack of patience is definitely a weakness for me, Imelda. I kept myself pretty distracted for the last couple days, but as Monday (the day when some test results should be in) nears, I’m starting to obsess a bit more. Thanks for your prayers.
When awaiting medical test results, most of us wouldn’t exhibit a huge amount of patience. I know few who say they could wait patiently, without turmoil, without nail biting, especially when the wait involves ones children. Keeping you and your family in my prayers that he will quickly heal.
It’s funny, they sent us home from the ER telling us it was good news they didn’t find signs of infection. I didn’t think it was good news – an infection, they give you medication and you get better. They ruled that out, so I had an unknown to ponder over. If the nurse hadn’t mentioned that the doc was really interested in the results of this last test, I wouldn’t have looked into it further.
I appreciate your prayers, Diane. We are hoping he is back to normal soon as well.
Sometimes waiting is all we can do as in the case with your son. Sending love and hope to you and all yours. Sometimes writing is what we should do as often waiting provide time for reflection and answers (or not) to come to us when we need them or not.
I agree that writing is good for reflection (or at the very least, distraction.) Thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughtful comment, Kathryn. Things are looking better than they did at the time I wrote this post 🙂
Waiting to hear more is difficulty. HUGS and know you and yours are in our thoughts.
ER are horrid – but worse on weekends. (Some ER docs are not really up to speed – blood and trama, yeah, but complicated stuff?, So it pays to be cautious and vigilant concerning what they say.)
Tom Petty’s one of my favorites.
As you say, time given is also a gift. (RC purring encouraging – she is sadden by all creature injured or hurting…..Molly sends a gentle paw around the ankle)
Thanks for keeping us in your thoughts, Phil. So far, things are looking good, but to be on the safe side, they’ll do another round of tests in two weeks. I appreciate the kind support of Molly and RC (I bow in her presence :))
Prayer is extremely important in life and it actually does wonders! Keep it up!
I agree, Fleybovich! Prayer brings a sense of comfort. Prayers from others bring a deeper support that I can’t really describe.
Those are the hardest places and times to wait, Janna. You must be improving to get to tackle this one! 🙂 So thankful you have a lot of support nearby.
Thanks, Patti. Things are looking so much better. I appreciate you stopping by 🙂
My best to you. Our children are always a special worry, and waiting is difficult.
Thanks for your well-wishes and your visit, The Writing Waters. I appreciate it 🙂
Oh, Janna, I’m so sorry to hear of this. As a mom, I know how incredibly difficult this can be. I’m thinking of you and your son–and sending lots of positive thoughts your way. ((Hugs)) to you.
Thanks for thinking of us, Sandra. I’m hopeful the issue has been resolved, but he’ll have another re-test in about a week and a half to make sure.
Oh Janna, that’s so hard. Praying for you and your son during all of this, that everything would be OK.
I’m glad you had that support. It’s amazing how God really shows himself through the love and practical responses of people during these times. I love that image of His arm around your shoulders. It’s wonderful you have that peace, knowing He has you and your family covered.
Take care,
Ali
Thanks for your prayers, GodGirl. He is much better now but has follow up tests in about a week and a half. It’s in the back of my mind, but I’m not actively worrying about it. I think it will all be okay.