Never Alone or Wait Up, Girlfriend!

Never Alone or Wait Up, Girlfriend!

When my oldest daughter was little, we noticed she had a tendency to walk ahead of us. We were constantly calling to her, asking her to wait for us or stop. Turning back, she would often have a serene look that would quickly change to bewilderment until she spotted us. It’s hard to stay aggravated with such cuteness.

As she got older, we would go on vacation, visit amusement parks, walk into restaurants, tour the Biltmore, or go to a grocery store, and the same thing would happen. Because of her tendency to walk ahead of everyone, we really had to keep an eye on her for fear that she would get lost.

Sometimes, her dad and I would stop and watch as she’d keep walking, her eyes straying to anything that caught her interest—usually something that sparkled.  (Don’t worry, we didn’t let her wander so far that she was in any danger.) We wanted to see how long it would take for her to notice we were no longer with her.

At last, she’d stop and turn, looking for us. I think she finally noticed that she didn’t hear things like “Stephanie, wait!” or “Stephanie, stop!” or “Stephanie. Stephanie? Stephanie!” I’ve never gotten so tired of speaking one name!

When she spotted us, she’d give us that bewildered expression again. In more recent days, it’s turned into a look of exasperation.

Oh, we’d talk to her about it, fuss at her, scold her. It made no difference—and it wasn’t deliberate disobedience either. Anyone who has children with ADHD will tell you that your instructions, though well received, and the promise to stay close so faithfully given, will soon be forgotten. (Sometimes, almost instantly). Have you heard the term “in one ear and out the other”? I’d say that was the theme of  the well-received 80’s show “A Day in the Life of Stephanie.”

As an adult, she still strides out ahead of anyone she’s with (unless you’re holding her hand). The only difference now is that she usually does have a destination in mind. There were times, though, that I wanted to ask, “What’s going on in that little head of yours?”

How’s that working for you?

When I think about all the times that Stephanie ran ahead of us, it reminds me of how sometimes we as children of God run ahead of Him. My goodness, how impatient we are and how patient He is! We’re always in such a hurry, wanting everything now. We go this way and that, with fantastic ideas, thinking that we can do everything on our own. “Oh, how pleased God will be when He sees what we’ve done.” How’s that working for you? Speaking from experience, it doesn’t work so well for me.

I have all these great ideas and plans, and when I find myself in a complete mess, I turn and look for God. He’s always there. I find Him waiting patiently for me, wanting us (God and me) to go in a direction I never thought about. No matter how far I wander, He’s always there—and I mean RIGHT THERE—waiting for me.

We can do nothing without him, and I can’t imagine the heartache we must cause Him at times. He still loves us. I just want to praise His name all day long for that fact alone. I’m so glad that He never leaves us.

Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,’ even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you. (Psalm 139:7-12)

Thank you, God, that you are always with me no matter where I go! In the meantime, I have to go tell Stephanie to slow down and wait for me—I’m getting tired. God bless and keep you all!