Far too quickly the week had come to an end. My heart dropped at the thought of heading back to a place he knew all too well. I watched my parents enjoying their breakfast. I couldn’t help but wonder what was in store for them as a result of helping us. I also felt a deep pang of guilt knowing this was their long-awaited time to enjoy an empty nest. I did chuckle a bit, however, at the thought of me and the kids as scrawny little screeching birds in the nest, beaks open wide waiting to be fed. It gave me a sense of hope to find humor in something.
I was tired…so very tired. I knew deep inside the responsibility to move forward rested on my shoulders. I had to be willing to take whatever steps necessary in order to provide an independent place to figure this all out. Where would we live? How soon could I get the children enrolled in school? Where was I going to find a job? What about counseling? As usual, I was attempting to solve everything in a day. I wanted simply to move forward out of this haze of madness into a place of clarity, peace and order.
I suddenly found myself questioning my move. My heart longed for the familiar even though the familiar brought the opposite end result of what I knew was spiritually, mentally, or physically healthy for any of us. I began to doubt my abilities. Fear began rolling in like a heavy fog settling in and blinding any peace or joy I had experienced in the past few days. Tears streamed down my face as I began sobbing uncontrollably. Mom lovingly wrapped me in her arms. Dad came over and sat down beside me, gently patting me on the back saying, “One day at a time hon, one day at a time.”
You see God understood my circumstances much better than I ever could have. He knew I had to let go of my pride and learn to receive in order to know the proper way to give. I had to learn the difference between giving and enabling. I had to stop and learn who I was in Him and to Him before He could proceed with the plans He had for me.
He knew that farther down the road I would be given the chance to repay just a small portion of the love and support Mom and Dad had showered upon me. He knew the day would come when I would wrap my arms around Mom as she cried, and I would have the chance to sit down beside Dad, gently patting him on the back saying, “One day at a time, Dad, one day at a time.” God’s mercy is good, especially as we learn to receive with grace during the times of waiting.
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.” 2 Corinthians 1:4
“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” Deuteronomy 31:8
Cinderella in Waiting 