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Lady in Waiting


I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I put my hope.
Psalm 130:5

I looked up to and admired them both. My sisters, six and eight years my senior, were my models for who and what I should become. I don’t recall the exact date but it became clear to me they were in a club I was yet to enter - Womanhood. I dreamed of the day and wished with all my heart to join them.

It was under a cloudless Kansas sky, my mom drove me to the mall. This day was big. Huge even. I was just ten years old yet my mom acquiesced and we were en route to get my ears pierced. Step one of two to reach my goal of maturation would soon be marked from my list. 

When I returned, "holier" than I’d left, I strutted around my sisters’ sun blankets to ensure they saw the sparkling treats which adorned my ears. My swagger blocked the sun and I was soon shooed back into the house. Women only in the sunbathing zone!

Imagine my utter delight when just a few hours later that telltale sign appeared. Step two of blastoff to womanhood burst on the scene. My cycle had begun. This time I sprinted outside certain the announcement of my current status would earn me a place on the mat. It did not. The gap between my sisters and I wasn’t menstruation or jewelry. It was age - a chasm no physical change could close. I would forever be the younger sister.

At ten I didn’t realize much of life is spent waiting:

The nine long months of pregnancy
The years for an adoption to come through
The indeterminate span of time for a spouse to find work
The decade spent writing before the first book is published
The hours until your teen comes home
The years until retirement

All of us wait on something. For years I thought when life paused I was waiting on God. One day it occurred to me perhaps He was waiting on me instead. It's in the interims of life my character develops. I grow in grace and compassion. I learn patience and trust. 

Waiting is not wasted. It is packed with the precious. That's why I love being a lady in waiting.

28 comments:

  1. I love the connection you make here- we spend our lives waiting but HE is waiting on us. Beautiful post.

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    1. Awwww, thanks Mary Lauren. Always glad when you stop by. :)

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  2. That was so beautiful!!! Indeed, it is thru' waiting that we learn patience and trust.

    Have a blessed day!

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    1. You are so right. I want patience and trust so if waiting is the means God uses to develop that in me...I'm on His page!

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  3. Happy Sunday via the Planet Weidknecht weekend hop!

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  4. Our growth and refinement comes in the waiting, not in the reward. Love this. Beautifully written, Shannon. :) Wishing you an abundantly blessed week!
    ~Rosann

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  5. At 10 we really have no idea about waiting...Life is a waiting game many times....I like this post

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    1. Kim, you are so right. What I wouldn't give to let that 10 year girl know a thing or two. :)

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  6. Shannon,
    I love this reflection! Thank you for this reminder of the beauty and holiness found in waiting. You've helped me to slow down today : )
    Blessings,
    Ann

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    1. Dr. Ann, there is great peace and joy in slowing down. :)

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  7. Shannon, I love your use of the scripture Psalm 130:5! He fills my waiting with goodness! -Blessings to you, Amy

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    1. That's an incredible truth when we think about it. He fills my waiting with goodness!

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  8. What a wonderful post Shannon! Thank you so much for participating in our 1st Period Story Blog Hop! Do you know anyone else interested in sharing their story? Hope you have a wonderful week!

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    1. Tara, you are so welcome. Thanks for hosting!

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  9. You write a very lovely post. Very true for all of us. Stopping by from the Saying Hello Weekend Hope.

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    1. Grandma Bonnie, thanks so much! Appreciate the visit!!

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  10. Great thoughts Shannon. Preparation is so important. I'm learning that the goal isn't always the point, the growth on the way is too good to be missed!

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    1. Beck, maybe we could say growth is the goal, huh?

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  11. That was marvelous Shannon. It made me cry, remember, reflect, think and be grateful I could see this through your young eyes :)

    Sharon

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    1. Sharon, you are so sweet. With both of us having a mess of kids we probably need to develop the skill of seeing life through their eyes. :)

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  12. Wow, what wonderful advice especially when little girls are trying to find their way in the world. It's not easy being a woman sometimes, uh :( Love your post. Happy Valentine's Day <3

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    1. Barbara, hope you had a blessed Valentine's. It's a fun adventure guiding four little girls on the path to womanhood!

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    1. Thanks so much. I am thankful for your visit and your heart to consider the possibilities.

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  14. Shannon, at one point in my life i sold insurance, and my sales manager liked to send us encouraging notes with pithy sayings. One of his favorites was, "All things comes to he who waits, as long as he works his butt off while he waits." But as I've gotten older and hopefully wiser, I realize that when it comes to our spiritual lives, we sometimes do too much working and not enough waiting. Thanks as always for your wise words.
    Blessings,
    Linda
    P.S. I have an older brother, and now that we're in our "golden" years, I take delight in reminding him that, no matter how old we both are, I'll always be younger!

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    1. Oh my word, I have a background in insurance as well. Believe it or not, my former life was as an actuary (a math major who does stats). Seeing as how God can use a geeky math major like me...he can use anyone!

      Love your insight!

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