It.

People often wish, myself included, that every day could be Christmas. We wish that we could sing Christmas carols 24-7, and drink Christmas-in-a-cup in July, and leave our Christmas trees up all year 'round. But the funny thing is, if we tried to preserve Christmas, we’d lose it in the process. The best part of Christmas (in my opinion), is the wonder. There’s something special in the anticipation and mystery of having to wait 364 days to arrive at Christmas Day. Each day of the wait finds you a little more excited than the day before, until eventually, when your Days-‘til-Christmas countdown is hovering right above zero and you just can’t wait any longer – suddenly, magically, it’s Christmas.

I am trying to re-work my brain into thinking of waiting this way. Waiting isn’t a drudgery. Waiting is a journey. It’s a countdown: often made up of unknown numbers, which only adds to the beauty and mystery of it all. Each day brings you one day closer to reaching the end of the wait. And, just like Christmas, it - whatever your “it” is - will be worth the wait.

In my life, I have had many, many “its” - some greater than others. I think everyone has. We’re all waiting for something. Most of the time, we wait for multiple somethings at the same time. Sometimes, our somethings are material; at other times, what we want is intangible – ideas, relationships, dreams.  Over the past few years, one of the material “its” I’ve waited for is a professional SLR camera. Photography is something that I am very passionate about; but, because I’ve only ever had a point-and-shoot camera, I haven’t been able to fully pursue photography professionally.

Last week, the wait for this particular “it” came to an end. God gave me my camera, much sooner than I ever imagined. And let me tell you: I am far more grateful for my camera now, than I ever would have been, had I received it right away. Would I have enjoyed the camera if He had given it to me years ago? I’m sure. But I wouldn’t have appreciated it as much. Because now, with every beautiful and melodic click of the shutter, I am reminded to give Him thanks. I am not deceived. “Every good and perfect gift is from above” (James 1:17). Now, I know I won’t ever take it for granted.

The wait has sweetened the prize. 

"...Hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience." - Romans 8:24-25 (ESV).

Don’t lose hope! Be patient.
Wait for it.

 

Without wax,
Sarah.

PS: Here’s a sneak peek of what’s to come. :).