My dad always told me that God always answers prayers in one
of three ways: Yes, no, or wait. Personally, I would rather God just close the
door and say, “no” then tell me to wait. If you know me at all, then you know
that I absolutely, positively HATE waiting. I’m impatient and I’ll be the first
to admit it.
Imagine this for a second: you live a simple life. You’re a
high school student with not a care in the world and the best family in the
universe. Literally. Suddenly, high school ends. You are thrown into the real
world without a word of warning and reality hits hard. After a summer of
working full time, it’s time to do something with your life. Instead of going
to college like any normal kid, you get the brilliant idea to go to a tiny town
in Austria and be an Au Pair for six months for three rambunctious children who
don’t speak a word of English.
Sounds like a genius plan, right?
So that’s what I did. I packed entirely too much, jumped on
a plane, and flew to Austria. All alone. First time I have ever been somewhere
without anyone I know in my whole eighteen years of existence.
It was adventure time.
On a more serious note, I have to be very honest. I have
been in Austria for three days now and let me just shoot really straight: they
have been terrifying days and some of the hardest days of my life. All I have
wanted was to go home, snuggle up in my very own bed, and talk to my mom. I
love my mom. I don’t think I have ever been away from her for more than two
weeks at a time. So back to the point. I've been a wreck. Every chance I have
gotten to go curl up in my bed and cry in my room on the top floor of this four
story house…I have taken it. You may think I’m overly dramatic and maybe I am.
But my point is that this has not been easy so far.
Okay back to this whole “waiting” issue. Through everything
in the past few days, I have prayed one thing at least 100 times. “Lord, give
me a peace which only comes from you.” I haven’t been feeling that peace. I
have been fed up with 4-year-old temper tantrums, 2-year-old hissy fits, and
baby food on my turquoise skinny jeans…but no peace. And until yesterday
afternoon, I had begun to think that God had said, “No.” Silly me.
After church yesterday morning, I went on a hike with my
host family. We drove all the way to the top of the ski hill and began climbing
from there. We walked with another family, who have two twin boys. My family
has one boy and twin girls so we were hiking with two 5-year-olds, one
4-year-old, and two 2-year-olds.
Really? All I wanted was a little peace!
But as we reached the top, for the first time in three days,
my mind was not on home. Instead I was basking in the beautiful creation. I was
taking in the crisp fall air. I was in awe of the glory of the mountains that
surrounded me. I was thankful for it.
And then it hit me.
What could be more peaceful?
The Lord had once again taught me a lesson and it was a
simple one: wait.
I’m not saying that my home sickness is cured and that the
next six months will be no problem. I don’t even like to think about how long
it will be until I see my family and friends for two short weeks at Christmas.
(80 days, if you were wondering.) I have full confidence that the Lord will
continue to teach me lesson after lesson after lesson. But as for now, I have
conquered the first one by His strength.
Lesson one: Be thankful. Be patient.
Psalm 121
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