Monday and Tuesday of this past week Jill and I were in Bartlesville. Our baby girl, Jessica, was having our third grandchild and her first child. She has been struggling with some blood pressure issues and her doctor thought it would be a good idea to go ahead and induce labor and bring that baby into the world.

She checked into the hospital at 11:59 Sunday night. They got her started on some medication to cause dilation. When she reached the right number they would then put her on Pitocin to bring on the labor. This all sounded like a good plan but that is all it seemed to be, a plan.

Jill and I were on the road at 7:30 Monday morning. Get to hospital and things looking good. Noon comes along and…. Yep, medicines are continued and progress is, well, progress is barely any. First time mom, these things can take a little time. Five p.m. comes and she has dilated a half a centimeter. Go have some supper a little after six, nope. Cafeteria closes at 6 and reopens at 9 p.m.

Grab a snack, visit with other family, check on Jessica and Andrew who are playing Phase 10 (and she is beating him BAD!). No progress but there are a few contractions happening.

About 11, nurse says nothing tonight, all go home and see what tomorrow brings. We head to cafeteria, grab some grub, go back and tell kids goodnight and head for home. Get in about 1:30.

Next morning, Tuesday, we get up and around. On the road about 8 a.m. Get a call saying Jessica is at a two, Pitocin hooked up. We are going now. We get to the hospital in Bartlesville about 10. She’s dilated another half centimeter. The nurse comes in and checks her every hour. Basically, she dilates about a centimeter an hour. Epidural is now in place for pain and all is good.

Jill and I go out in waiting room and sit with the families. There are Jessica’s in-laws and an aunt, Jill and I and Jessica’s grandma. Then Andrew’s brother, wife and three kids come by. We visit with each other, tell stories, laugh, visit with strangers, walk the halls, walk the parking lot, and walk the walking trail. We take intermittent naps, snack and basically do whatever we can to beat the boredom and the suspense of waiting for that baby to get here.

Finally at 5 p.m. we get the call that she’s at a nine, time to push. Harper Reese is getting her eviction notice. And push she does for the next 2 hours. Then at 7:01 p.m. she comes into the world. But the waiting is not over yet. It is still another wait before we get any picture, weight and measurement and get to see her personally.

But the best part was to hold her all bundled up in the swaddling blanket, take a moment and just behold the creation of a man and woman from God and fight back the tears. Yes, this was worth the wait.

Made me think this morning. Think about Jesus’ birth. Mary and Joseph knew this child she was carrying was the Messiah. A few chosen others knew, also. But the world was waiting for Messiah. Waiting for the redeemer of mankind. Waiting, going on about their daily chores, activities and duties, waiting. They would gather in their family circles, social gatherings and daily routines, waiting. They would talk, discuss and debate, waiting. But then at just the right time, “the word became flesh and dwelt amoungst us.”

Jesus’ birth happened, not when it was convenient or fit into man’s schedules, but when the fullness of time had come and God was ready. I had to remind myself of that fact. Little Harper would be born when God was ready, not Tim.

But another fact hit me also. We are a world waiting for Jesus’ second return. Yes, we are here today with the promise that he would come back (John 14:3-4). We are waiting. Just like waiting the birth of the Messiah, waiting for the birth of a new grandbaby, we are waiting for the second coming Jesus.

We gather in our circles, family and the like, and discuss, debate and discern the time, date and years of this event but, truthfully, we have no clue. No one does (Matt. 24:36). But I will say this, the waiting has a tremendous reward.

I held Harper and told her Pappy had been waiting for her for the last two days and she was worth it. I can’t wait to see Jesus, face to face, and tell Him that the wait was worth it.

Bro. Tim