Waiting In a Hospital

It seems like I spend a lot of time waiting in a hospital. In September of 2001 my life changed dramatically. I lived in a sheltered world where nothing bad ever happened. I knew when I saw my brother, in my moms car, picking me up from school on September 5, something was incredibly wrong.

I learned that day, just how fleeting life can be. That was the day that the strongest man I know, had a heart attack, followed by finding out he was diabetic. It's hard to see your Daddy in a hospital bed. It didn't quite sink in at the time the severity of what this meant or the life changes it would mean. At 14, just a few days into my freshman year of high school, I didn't stop to give it much consideration. Other than knowing I didn't like my daddy being in the hospital and not at home with our family.

Throughout the years, I've spent my fair share of time, rushing to the hospital, or waiting for daddy to be admitted to the hospital for a procedure, and each time it gets a little scarier. Each time I realize just how much I need him, and how I know that he's not getting any younger.

Today, I took off work at the last minute to be at the hospital for the birth of my niece, Haybri. I'm sitting waiting in the same hospital that I sat in, in December 2007 waiting for the birth of my nephew, Hayden. I missed his birth, because he decided to wait and not come out till the following day, and I had to be in Arlington taking finals. Haybri was supposed to join this world around noon today, but she is now scheduled for arrival around 5. And so here I sit again, waiting.

The last time I was here, I was in the midst of studying for finals, with really not a care in the world. And today, I sit here, with my iPad and iPhone going off every five seconds with emails or meeting requests. Another simple reminder how fleeting this life is and how nothing is permanent. This time I'm accompanied by the sounds of my sweet nephew telling another little boy he's getting a new sister today.

So as I look back on where I've been in waiting at a hospital till today, I can't help but think about the future. I can't help but think of the possibility that God might bless me with a husband, and someday I may be at the hospital (preferably at my house..but you know).....waiting.

Everything in this life truly comes full circle, and the most important part of it all is how we spend it, waiting, until The Lord takes us home. Do we spend it wrapped up in work? Do we spend it wrapped up in things of this world? Or do we spend it, taking off work at the last minute, with a list of things we were supposed to accomplish, to be in a hospital, waiting, for the most precious gift imaginable. I admit, I'm usually the former, wrapped up in work, but I'm learning to stop and realize what the truly important things in life are.

What do you do while you're waiting?