Worth The Wait

This past week has been quite busy as we have had the opportunity to help with the Minnesota West SERVE at a local CRC. We have always had a passion for SERVE because I had gone to 3 when I was in high school (2 at the Benton Harbor/St. Joseph SERVE that Dan’s dad ran for around 20 years). That means Dan had been around SERVE basically his whole life (not quite, but close!). I “met” Dan at that BH/SJ – he was the hot drummer, but in my mind, he was WAY out of my league! Little did I know that when I started my sophomore year of college, that Dan would be entering that year, also as a sophomore (he had gone to a community college for a few years). That move in day our sophomore of college was the beginning of what would be an end to our years of wondering who we were going to marry!I knew that whoever I married, I would have to tell them that I had a heart condition. Our first date to Applebees consisted of dessert because I had politely told him I already had dinner (that’s another story!) I will never forget that setting. Sitting over my brownie and ice cream dessert, I anxiously and hesitantly told Dan my heart story. I was fearful as to how he would respond. Not that I assumed I would marry this man that I just met, but I was nervous. Fearing a response of shock or fearing a response of not wanting anything to do with me because of my physical heart. It sounds ridiculous, but at that age, I only had to wonder and worry. But it took Dan coming into my life, to help me realize that my scars told my story.

A story that has been years in the making.

I will never forget one night, Dan was looking at my scar and put his finger ever so gently on my scar and said that my scars made me beautiful. It was my scars that made him love me even more. Tears filled my eyes as I could have only dreamed of hearing those words. Dan not only accepted my physical condition, but realized that it made me who I am and in his eyes, more beautiful.

Dan was my answer to prayer. Dan was the man I was to marry. Dan was willing to walk this journey with me.

The past 8 years of our marriage have been far from easy, but couldn’t be more blessed. We look back on all of the blessings God has bestowed on us and we never want to look back and wish things were different. God has uniquely designed our life to look like it has and because of the road, we have never been closer to our Savior.

It has been in the waiting, that we have grown. Trust me, this has not always been a road filled with patience and understanding, but a road worth traveling.

This week I had to quickly run to town to pick up a few groceries for our mission trip the coming week and the song “While I’m Waiting” by John Waller was on the radio.

As I drove and listened to each and every word, I couldn’t help but think of this song as the story of our life. Sometimes it was extremely hard to move ahead bold and confident. It was painful. Yet we strived to be obedient. Obedient to where God was leading. Yes, it even ended up in Dan losing his job, but it has been worth it. We look at where God has led us and we can only lift up our hands in under surrender and praise to Him. Our faith has definitely wavered. Peace about what God was doing was not always felt because we doubted.

But it has been worth the wait.

This little one inside of me has been worth the wait. This precious child has been worth every moment. No matter where God leads, we are ready and willing to follow.

While I’m Waiting

By: John Waller

I’m waiting, I’m waiting on You Lord
And I am hopeful, I’m waiting on You Lord
Though it is painful, but patiently I will wait

And I will move ahead bold and confident
Taking every step in obedience

While I’m waiting I will serve You
While I’m waiting I will worship
While I’m waiting I will not faint
I’ll be running the race even while I wait

I’m waiting, I’m waiting on You Lord

And I am peaceful, I’m waiting on You Lord
Though it’s not easy no, but faithfully I will wait

Yes, I will wait

And I will move ahead bold and confident
Taking every step in obedience

While I’m waiting I will serve You
While I’m waiting I will worship
While I’m waiting I will not faint

I’ll be running the race even while I wait

I will move ahead bold and confident
I’ll be taking every step in obedience, yeah

While I’m waiting I will serve You
While I’m waiting I will worship
While I’m waiting I will not faint

And I will serve You while I’m waiting

I will worship while I’m waiting
I will serve You while I’m waiting
I will worship while I’m waiting
I will serve You while I’m waiting
I will worship while I’m waiting on You Lord

I will serve You while I’m waiting
I will worship while I’m waiting
I will serve You while I’m waiting
I will worship while I’m waiting

P.S. In case you are wondering, I am feeling absolutely GREAT! The week after finding out, my body was adjusting to all the newness, but I feel it now has adjusted and I eat fairly normal, I sleep great at night, and I have the symptoms of being pregnant. Again, Best. Feeling. Ever. If I didn’t feel anything, this girl would be worried! I am not nauseous (yet) and just feel a tad tired and bloated. I like to think that it’s my stomach growing (yes, I realize I am way to early to even show yet), but that is what I like to tell myself and I’m sticking to it :). I am so incredibly thankful for how great I feel because I know that is not the case for so many. And yes, I am extremely early in my pregnancy too and things could change. But until then, I am just humbled and thankful. We continue to pray for God to just sustain this little one’s life and eventually be able to hold the little babester in our arms!

By the way, I have nicknamed our child “babester” (short for Baby Sterk). On the other hand, Dan has named our child something else – leave it to Dan to call our child “Cletus the Fetus”.

Oh so help me 🙂