I stand on the threshold with arms open wide. The first words out of my mouth are “welcome home.” My son, daughter-in-law, grandson, and their dog enter into my embrace. Not all at once, but one by one. There is no place like home and several weeks ago I was blessed to welcome home my kids after being gone for two years.
Standing on the threshold of receiving my kids back into our hometown reminded me that God promises that if you wait for it, it will come.
And then God answered: āWrite this.
Write what you see.
Write it out in big block letters
so that it can be read on the run.
This vision-message is a witness
pointing to whatās coming.
It aches for the comingāit can hardly wait!
And it doesnāt lie.
If it seems slow in coming, wait.
Itās on its way. It will come right on time. Habakkuk 2:2-3 MSG
I prayed from the moment they left two years ago that God would make a way for them to come home. They only lived two hours away, but it seemed like the miles between us stretched my heart to its limit. My heart never stopped the rhythm of desiring a closer proximity. The two years went by fast in hindsight, but the space between here and there seemed endless. Waiting is like that- a space between here and there that stretches our heart muscles taut until they are shaking with anticipation and culmination.
Waiting is the space between here and there that stretches our heart muscles taut until they are shaking with anticipation and culmination. #TellHisStory #linkup Share on XGod made no mistake when he claimed this was my year to “receive.” It’s as if He declared “look at what I can do and I can’t wait to do it for you.” The deep valleys of waiting provide a limited perspective. The view looks familiar, but the heart desires more. It’s hard to see beyond the walls I surround myself with because I fall into the trap of only seeing what I want to see. My eyes deceive me into seeing a mirage of hope that I believe couldn’t possibly be for me.
I spent a year of surrendering and the growth was phenomenal. But I forgot on the other side of letting go, God needed me to slow down so He could do the work He already planned. Have you ever had the feeling of the carpet being swept out from beneath you? That is exactly what God did as I rang in the new year. He needed me in a place of humility and wanting in order to receive the goodness He had waiting.
I see you friends and waiting is flat out difficult. It picks at our energy and motivation and whittles away at the hope we long for on the other side. God took the time to teach me some hard lessons during these first six months. And honestly, there were times I was ready to give up. Like you, I am able to see glimpses of the other side of waiting. The threshold of receiving opened up the door to the goodness of God that was always there. I just needed to pause long enough to discover it for myself.
I imagine you all have your own stories of waiting. Perhaps, you are still in the middle. May I encourage you that God knows. He is waiting with you, but He is not silent in the preparations He is making in this space.
I would be honored if you shared a bit of your own story and what it is like to stand on the threshold of receiving.
Blessings,
Drumroll please …
***The winner of Jennifer Dukes Lee book, It’s All Under Control, is Maree Dee of Embracing the Unexpected. Please message me with your address.
The one year anniversary fun is not over. We have a talented community and three members have offered a copy of their own books to three of you. Plus, a fourth person will win a collection of Fair Trade items. Just enter the competition below. The giveaway is open for the next two weeks. Tell your friends.
Susan Shipe, who writes at Hope Heart Home, is a prolific, self-published writer who is offering one of her books, your choice, to one winner. Check out the selection HERE.
Pam Ecrement, writes at A New Lens, and she and co-author Becky Moreland, wrote Bring Me A Vision, A Story of Redeeming Hope. Click HERE to read more.
Betsy de Cruz, writes at Faith Spilling Over, and has a heart for finding ways to aide us in getting the most out of our quiet time with God. She wrote, More of God: A Distracted Woman’s Guide to More Meaningful Quiet Times. You can find more about her book, HERE.
Photo by HelpStay.com on Unsplash
Tell His Story One Year Anniversary
Mary – How exciting to win. Thank you for hosting the giveaway and Jennifer for her beautiful book. I loved her writing and have the perfect person to gift it to.
Yes, I am in a waiting period. I used to be terrible at waiting but have come to a place where I can find peace and even sometimes enjoy the wait. There is so much to learn in the waiting period.
I am waiting for healing for my children.
Blessings, Maree
I am so glad you won, Maree! I am glad to hear you have found a place of peace in your waiting. I know how hard it can be. I am praying for you as you pray for your children. May their hearts soften and open to the healing one of God.
Thank you for sharing. Enjoyed reading.
You’re welcome! Thank you for stopping by!
Ah, Mary … waiting, and hope, and waiting in hope. Even when the wait ends in sadness, there’s still hope, isn’t there? Because God is there in the wait, preparing … just as you said. I missed the one-year anniversary of the linkup last week, but wow… how is that even possible already? š Hugs, friend.
I am glad you are here this week, Lois! We are still celebrating. There is so much happening in the waiting that we don’t even realize. That is what I find even more amazing. I pray you are doing okay after all the loss you have experienced.
Thanks for sharing, Mary! What an encouragement!
You are welcome! I hope to see you here more often, Jeana! You are a blessing to me on Instagram.
I know you must be so happy to have your young ones back in the nest. laurensparks.net
I am ecstatic! It makes this momma feel like her heart is put back together again.
Thank you for sharing
You’re welcome! š
Wow! A year already? I love this Jennifer asked you to host and you picked it up and this community hasn’t missed a beat! Thank you for answering the call, my friend!
I know, right?? God is so good at orchestrating the timing and the details. He never ceases to amaze me. I have been blessed to stand in this space each week with all of you.
I am pleased to be a part of the celebration. Waiting is difficult and being faithful during the wait even more so! But, as you said, the answer can be so close if we don’t lose heart.
I love that you are offering one of your books as part of the giveaway. You are part of a talented community. May we all continue to be faithful in the wait.
What a blessing to receive that gift of this homecoming!! My husband and I have been in the eaitong. He has had 4 back surgeries, one on his hand and he’s about to have neck surgery. It’s been over 4yrs since he first applied. Then during that time I have gotten 3 diagnoses in my health. Waiting is tough but there is no denying that God is still good. He has grown our faith and He is my peace. He is what sustains me day after day. I hope and have faith the answer will be yes but if we have to start all over then I also have faith there is a reason.
I appreciate your vulnerability and willingness to share a part of your story. I can imagine you must be weary in the waiting. I pray God sustains and strengthens you and your husband in your everyday. God sees and hears you and knows you. May you rest in His perfect peace.
Congratulations on the linkup anniversary, as well as getting your family back close by, Mary! I want that so bad too. My grandson is about 15 hours away! So I totally get how you were feeling and am so glad God blessed you after a time of waiting! We learn so much during those times, don’t we? Hugs to you!
I know you wish your son, DIL, and grandson could be closer. It just makes us feel more complete, doesn’t it? I love having you here and helping us celebrate this anniversary.
Isn’t it awesome to think of God making preparations for us! Mind-blowing!
So glad your son moved back home. My daughter used to live in Colorado and then moved to 1/2 mile away from me. I do not forget the blessing in that. ~ Jerralea
It is awesome and mind-blowing. I love having my kids nearby. It is a dream come true. God has been in the business of blessing me more than I imagined these last few months. Thank you for sharing!
We both had “waiting” in our thoughts today! Your thoughts helped me go a little deeper with all that God has been teaching me, lately, about waiting. And about surrender. Its tough! Encouraging to read how God has blessed you through your season of surrender and waiting.
Waiting is a common theme in my life, but one that has taught me so very much. I am looking forward to reading your words today. I love when God provides similar themes through the words of others.
“The threshold of receiving opened up the door to Godās goodness that was always there.” Yes, Mary, God’s goodness was always there. Beautiful and powerful post. And I love the Habakkuk passage in the Message.
It takes me awhile to really learn all God is teaching me so when I do realize what He is telling me, it is a big “aha”. There is so much I am still processing that has happened since the beginning of this year. It has been quite a ride. Thank you for your kind words, Karen!
Mary,
Celebrating with you that your son and family are back home once again! So true that waiting is the distance between here and there. Even though both of my kids live less than 20 minutes away, there is an estrangement between us that I pray every single day that God would close and heal. I have done all I can do and now I just have to wait on His timing and pray that He would soften their hearts toward Him and toward me. Hanging in there with hope as I wait.
Blessings,
Bev xx
I am joining you in prayer as you stand with God waiting for your son and daughter to return. Thank you for sharing this and for being faithful in the wait. Blessings and hugs, dear friend!
What joy to have your family close by! All of my kids live near except one, who is about 900 miles away. Thankfully we see him 3 times a year. We lived 1,000 miles away from my family and 2,000 from my husband’s most of our lives and were only able to visit every other year or so. I don’t know how the grandmas stood it. What a picture of the reunion to come in heaven some day.
I don’t know how the grandmas stood it either. That must have been so hard for them. I’m glad you get to see your child who is so far away three times a year. Thank you for the reminder of the beautiful reunion to come in heaven.
Yes, welcome home. Beautiful words of longing, of relief, of joy!
Sensing your joy, celebrating homecomings long anticipated.
I feel such gratitude for all that God is doing in my life. It is not always easy and the outcomes are not always ones I prayed for, but on the other side God is still there extending grace and mercy. Thanks for being here, Linda!
Mary, this is such a beautiful and hope filled post. “God knows. He is waiting with you, but He is not silent in the preparations He is making in this space.” Oh, Amen and Amen!
May you bask in the joy of having your family close by!
The hope in realizing that God knows everything we are feeling and going through is so comforting to me. I am nothing without the hope of God and truth that He is always working things for good and with purpose. Blessings to you, Joanne!
So happy for you, Mary. I know the feeling of having children living far away – one of my sons lives 2,000 miles away and one lives 3,000 miles away! God does give us what we need. I am still learning to slow down and be patient. Not an easy lesson to learn!
I can’t imagine having either of my sons live so far away. I pray you are even opportunities to see them often. I guess I am not always good at learning lessons that God lays in front of me. He has been very direct with me since January and that’s okay because it was needed. Thank you for sharing, Laurie!
Mary, this is such a beautiful,hope-filled post! I have been on the side of waiting where it felt like that for which I waited was not really something God had for me. I’m thankful that He is our God of HOPE, and that the waiting seasons aren’t wasted. Thank you for the reminder that God is waiting with us. I needed that today.
The lesson that I continue to learn is that God wastes nothing. Whether we are in a season of waiting, action, or somewhere in between, He has a purpose for it all. It is comforting to know that God is waiting with us, isn’t it? Thank you for sharing and leaving sweet words of encouragement.
I’m rejoicing along with you because I know the chasm of a two hour drive to see a much-loved son and daughter-in-law. Thanks for walking us through this journey of waiting, and I continue to be grateful for the many ways in which God is showing up with power in 2019. Blessings to you and your NEARBY grandboy!
You are such an encouraging cheerleader! I love that you show up here and understand my ramblings. God is showing up BIG in my life and I have to pinch myself at how gracious He continues to be.
Great post Mary!
I’m in the midst of waiting… With chronic illnesses, including a chronic pain condition.
God is doing great things in the meantime…though I look forward to my physical healing as it has been 13 years of painful waiting with God, though precious it has been.
Bless you,
Jennifer
Thank you for your courage in sharing here. I can’t imagine what it is like to live with chronic pain. I pray you continue to feel and know the goodness of God in the midst of your pain. Blessings!
Thank you Mary, God is gracious in our meantimes š
Bless you
That He is!!