For years now, my daughter has wanted her ears pierced. She has loved all of my jewelry, wishing desperately she could wear my earrings. I, much like my parents before me, felt like she was a little bit young for it. I told her that I wanted her to be a bit more responsible before we did something so permanent to her body. And, I told her that this was a big responsibility. Once you get earrings, you have to clean them and take care of them for weeks until your ears heal.

Her birthday is coming up quickly. She has followed through this year with the things I have asked her to be responsible with, and she is overall a very caring, responsible girl. She also has a big program coming up at school for third grade, and I decided to surprise her today and allow her to get her ears pierced early instead of waiting until her birthday. That way, when her program time came, she could wear pretty earrings to the program.

She was noticeably scared when the time came for the ladies to pierce her ears, but it really didn’t hurt her at all, and when it was done she was one very excited little girl.

Often, I think this is what the Lord asks of us. He asks us to wait, to be responsible with the things He has given to us first. If we can do that, then He gives us bigger and better things. So often, we want the bigger things faster than what He gives them, and we tend to go and get them of our own strength. Then we find out that we have ruined what could have been a beautiful experience.

Waiting is never easy, but something waiting leads to the greatest reward. I’m thankful I got to see that today in the joy in my daughters face with her pretty new earrings. I also hope I remember that when I try to rush God with the things that I want. He knows best. He sees my future and knows what may happen if I got what I wanted right now instead of in His time. I just really have to trust in Him.