In His Time

"He hath made every thing beautiful in his time..." (Ecclesiastes 3:11)

Patience isn't one of my virtues. And yet, each of my callings: wife, mother and writer are bound and born to and through time.

This past week was the first week of school (sort of like hell week for moms!). My van died at the grocery store and while I waited for my husband to rescue me, I went to McDonald's and met a couple who'd been married for 56 years. The woman had a kind smile as she asked her husband for his coffee while he waited for pancakes.

"He can't hear well," she explained. "He'll burn himself if I don't take it, but he doesn't want me to. I've earned the right now though. I waited and watched for a lot of years. When men are young, you have to let them work things out for themselves. I've earned the right to be a little bossy now."

I couldn't help but smile as she dished out years or wisdom in the minutes before my McMuffin arrived. Almost everything she said had to do with time--waiting, praying, listening, loving.

As I walked back to my van (and my husband) I realized that the same waiting process occurs throughout my life and nature too. There is a season for everything--a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to be born and a time to die. I've been watering a lot of seeds for a long time (you probably have too) but this past Sunday in worship I accepted the fact that some of them might never bloom.

Others of them are beneath the soil, formed by faith, waiting for a whisper from heaven to break forth when I least expect it. Rhythms of Grace hid in my heart for almost ten years before being birthed. Other projects are in transition and though it hurts, I know it will be worth it. My children, now ranging from a kindergartner to a high school senior, seem to have sprung up overnight while I was sleeping.

Though some parts of my life seem stark and barren, ever-cold despite my passionate efforts, the pruning and patience, the hidden life in Christ, will bloom into something beautiful, something fragrant and vivid, something timely and true.

So if your back aches from crouching over an unwilling seed, rise up. Move on. One day, when your dream-seed is long forgotten, you will smell something wonderful, see something real. Your dream will bloom, even if it's not the way you expected.

He makes all things beautiful...in His time.

 

Marilynn Griffith is a wife to a deacon, mom to a tribe and proof that God gives second chances. When she's not trying to park her van straight or find someone a clean shirt, she writes novels about faith, friendship and forgiveness and speaks to women and writers about reaching their dreams. Visit her at www.MarilynnGriffith.com .

Comments

[Jane Squires]

Now you definitely have to have one comment today to show someone read your blog. I came here because of Virginia Smith's link on her website. God Bless.

[Marilynn]

Jane,

Thanks for your comment and for reading Virginia's books. She's the best!

blessings,
marilynn

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http://www.MarilynnGriffith.com
Serious Faith. Serious Fiction. Serious Fun

[Stacey Nelson]

Marilyn. I love it! In His Time.Wow, this article is so encouraging and inspiring. Every now and then I think God brings someone along to say or do something,give us exactly what we need for that specific moment in our lives. This time I guess it was your turn, thanks I needed that!
Stacey Nelson