Since finishing my doctoral studies, I've been making more of an effort to dedicate time to my creative writing. As part of my focused writing time, I recently finished a draft of a short story, one that details the events of the evening we surprised Mommom for her 90th birthday.
Turns out--and I didn't know this when I decided we should throw her a surprise party--turns out she waited 90 years for a real birthday party.
Now before you get too upset at this injustice--make no mistake, my family celebrated Mommom's birthday every year.
But it was always a low-key, immediate family only, cake and ice cream routine.
Had I known Mommom had never had a real birthday party, I would have suggested to my mother that we throw her a big one years ago.
But I didn't know. And so I found out that night, a couple days before her actual birthday, when she gave a speech thanking us all for coming, and noting that she'd never had a real birthday party.
I found myself tearing up during her speech, and now, coming back to that moment, I think about the other things we spend our lives waiting for, maybe without even realizing we're missing out.
Are you waiting to be celebrated?
To be loved and accepted for who you are?
To come to Jesus?
Are you waiting to forgive someone? To exercise grace in your own life?
Maybe you're waiting for the next big thing around the corner, without stopping to be in this moment, to give thanks for all you've currently got?
I don't know what you're waiting for--courage to take your next step, whatever that might be?
A big, life-changing event? One that will inspire you to finally do everything you always thought you would? Those things that have faded into the background, those things that maybe you'll get to someday?
We won't all get 90 years. I pray that you will, if longevity is a goal of yours.
But I'm guessing that if you think about it, there's something you're waiting for, somebody you're waiting on, or some experience you're missing out on, maybe without even realizing what you've been missing.
Suggestion of the day: Don't wait.
