THE WAITING ROOM

The doctor’s office was jammed. Our doctor was running an hour late. We felt that we had arrived at  “Frustration City.” Restlessness was contagious. Time seem to be standing still.  Brittle silence reigned. Conversations were crisp. The silence could have been cut with a knife. Time dragged.

With boredom I began glancing around the room.

I noticed a young, beautifully groomed business-woman, with three toddlers (one set of twins) and a slow moving elderly woman in tow. The young woman couldn’t find seats for all of them together so she graciously and lovingly moved from child to child to her Mom and back dispensing calm and settling them with books and toys. An hour later, when their turn finally came, the entire family  gathered to go to the examining room.  As she walked by me, I caught the young woman’s eye complimenting her on her mothering skills. With a radiant smile she said, “I’m here for my Mother.” That young woman loves like Jesus does, with  patience and unselfishness.

Across the room, an elderly couple waited. If the gentleman got up once, he stood up abruptly from his seat eight times, each time tripping on a scatter mat. He went to the reception desk eight times. He made verbal sounds without words eight times. When the receptionist lovingly said, “Hi BOB” he would take his seat again.   Bob was satisfied that she remembered he was waiting. Bob’s embarrassed wife often held her face in her hands.

Wives and receptionists care like Jesus does, unconditionally.

A woman was weeping behind the doorway. Her prognosis was not good.

The receptionist lovingly spoke comfort to her. Someone’s arms happened to be waiting as she came back into the waiting room. God used my arms. It is a joy to be in the right place at the right time. The Waiting was well worth it.

What a privilege to love like Jesus does- He orchestrates hugs!

Who will you love today? Might you be His conduit of love?

Watch for opportunities to offer folk a glimpse of Jesus!

©2004- MDB