I'm sure there is a reason God wants us to wait to have a child. Sometimes we wait months as in being pregnant and sometimes longer (as in not being pregnant when you want to be or as in adoption). I asked Him why this morning, but He hasn't gotten back to me yet. I suppose it has something to do with preparation. Those of you who have "type A" personalities can probably be prepared very quickly, but some of us take a little longer. Either way, it doesn't take that long to get a room ready, buy the clothes and gather all of the necessary paraphernalia for bringing home a new member of the family. As a matter of fact, it is probably not at all about us getting things ready, but about Him getting us ready. By us I mean our hearts, minds and spirits for the journey that awaits us.
The early months of our adoption paperwork were filled with doctors' appointments, notary appointments, fingerprint appointments (multiple ones, because my 81 year old mother lives with us and 81 year old fingerprints don't "take") and endless phone calls, reading lists and trips to the FedEx office. Then came the excitement of referral and finally seeing the precious face and knowing the name of our new daughter. I told my God that I would wait patiently as long as it takes, but please let me see her face soon! Did I really use the phrase "as long as it takes"? Now that the paperwork trail is over all we have to do is wait...and wait...and wait. I think this is where God is trying to prepare my "soil".
