At the 8th Annual Alexander United Methodist Church Ladies’ Retreat, Women of Strength, Karen asked me to give a simple talk, mostly telling my story.  Here is what I would like to share, in the spirit of “Keep it simple.”

WAIT.   Pause   SIT DOWN

We wait.  We are in no rush.  We allow God to give us a ride in his wheelbarrow, and we WAIT.You know the story:  a famous tightrope performer walks over Niagara Gorge on a wire.  Then he did it blindfolded.  Still wearing his blindfold, he did it pushing a wheelbarrow.  Performer asks:  Who believes I can walk across the wire and push a man in this wheel barrow?  A Man in the crowd,  One brave soul says “yes”, I do, I believe!Ok, said the performer, then climb into my wheel barrow.Well, I decided to climb into God’s wheelbarrow, Jesus is pushing it, and the wire is my life’s journey.    But what am I doing, as Jesus pushes me across:  sitting still, and waiting.Ps. 27:14  Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD. I’ve been asked to tell my story, and I believe it is summed up in this one word:  WAIT.  WAIT is really a mnemonic for four traits of a Woman of Strength: And I have seen them play out in my life.  I can put my personal story into this outline of WAIT. Today I will share with you the W in W.A.I.T.W =  welcome my weaknesses.As a child I was drawn to God, probably because I wanted something more in my life.  I wanted love and acceptance.—  Mom would take us to the Episcopal church—  As a young teen I was confirmed in a Presbyterian church even though I had not heard about Jesus as my Lord and Savior— As a high schooler, I sought Jesus out through Young LifeMy weaknesses were also my strengths: I was a talker, I was smart, and I was energetic. But these traits did not go over well.Kids didn’t want to hang with me, probably because I never gave them a chance to talk.I was considered bossy and  too big for my own britches; and I probably tired people out.This lack of acceptance, and seasons of being bullied, drew me to wanting to know God. I so wanted his love!Then as a senior in high school, 50 years ago, I came to know Jesus; two years later I met Rick, and in 1968 we got married.

Tell me how waiting is part of your grace story.  What specific instances has God used waiting to bring you closer to him?

Tune in tomorrow for the "A" in W.A.I.T!