For You

One of my most memorable Christmas gifts was somewhere around 1987.  I came down the hall Christmas morning and saw something like a big box under a caramel brown blanket.  I think my mom might have taken the blanket off to reveal my first big stereo.  You young ‘uns won’t remember these but this one was 2 or 3 feet tall.  It had two tape decks, a radio and a record player on top.  AND it had a section on the bottom that had a cassette tape rack down the middle and space on either side for your records.  Pretty sure that’s the stereo that blasted Tiffany, Debbie Gibson and even New Kids on the Block.  It was a good Christmas.

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Emma asked for an American Girl Doll for her birthday this year and the now budget mindful side of me screamed that I shouldn’t get such an expensive doll for her.  But then I remembered she’s turning 8 and I don’t know what it is about a little girl turning 8 but it’s special.  I think it’s about the same age I was when I got my stereo. I just knew I wanted this one to be memorable.  I can’t wait to see her eyes when she sees just the one she’s hoped for sitting in front of her.

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Yesterday when we got home a box was sitting on our front porch. There were several things I was expecting but had nearly forgotten the doll I ordered over a week ago.  As my hands were full of stuff coming into the house I asked Emma to bend down to see who it was from.  “American Girl” she said knowingly.  I brushed it off but a little part of me had hoped she’d be completely surprised.  She brought the box in and set it by the front door.  Every few minutes she’d pretend like she was going to carry it off or asked to open.  I would sternly say, “No, it’s for your birthday!”  I knew I wanted to salvage any surprise that was left so she could enjoy and remember that moment at her party.  She stamped her feet a few times still and said, “I want it now!”  We continued in our rounds of “Now”-“Wait” until she finally let it go.

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Yesterday I was reading Beth Moore’s blog and she asked her readers of something God had challenged them to do but had seen joy on the other side.  I skimmed through the answers and one answer I read I couldn’t get out of my head since reading.  She said she had been challenged in her promiscuity.  She had taken the mindset that it wasn’t a big deal but eventually realized it was and felt used.  After changing her ways she said she realized that God was not keeping sex FROM her but FOR her.

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I think that happens with a lot of things don’t you?  You want something so bad.  You get a glimpse of something and you start stomping your feet and saying “I want it now!”  But just like I know what it will feel like for Emma if she just waits on a special moment to open her doll, God knows of a moment that this thing you are desiring will be worth the wait.  It will be special.  It will be unforgettable.  It will be worth talking about for years to come.  If there is something you are desiring so strongly but God is holding it back may I suggest that he’s not holding it FROM you but FOR you?  He just might have the package sitting on the porch delivered and waiting on pins and needles to give it to you at just the right time.  Wait on Him.  It’s FOR you.

Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD. Psalm 27:14

Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4