“Waiting Is Not Easy!”
Perhaps you have fond memories of reading the Elephant and Piggie books as a child. I certainly do. My earliest library-going days consisted of checking out as many Mo Willems books as I was allowed to, then coming home and reading them with my brother and sister (there were only the three of us at the time).
For Christmas a few years ago we received a box set of all the Elephant and Piggie books. Though I’ve advanced into more mature literature (haha) I must admit I did find several excuses to read them to my younger sisters. They’re so simple and sentimental.
Anyways. A few weeks ago I stumbled across an Elephant and Piggie book I didn’t remember reading when I was little. So I read it. It’s called “Waiting Is Not Easy!”
The story is basically that Piggie has a surprise for Elephant, but Elephant has to wait for it. Gerald (aka Elephant) gets really impatient, says he doesn’t want it at all when he can’t have it right away, changes his mind and begs a little more. “Waiting Is Not Easy!” he says.
And then near the end of the book (the pages progressively get grayer as the book goes on, showing that nighttime is nearing) he gets upset because he’s been waiting for so long and it looks like nothing happened.
That’s when Piggie tells him to look up, because while he’s been whining about wanting his surprise right now, nighttime came and the beautiful stars came out. Gerald admits that it was worth the wait.
I was pondering this book after reading it, and thinking about how I’m like Gerald a lot of the time. Let’s say God is like Piggie.
He says he’s got good things coming for me, and I’m like, “I want them RIGHT NOW!”
I can be a little impatient at times. In fact most of my life I was so excited about growing up that I didn’t enjoy being a kid as much as I should have. I know God has good things planned for me. I don’t think it’s bad to anticipate them. But isn’t it just as good, or better, to enjoy every moment? To really notice the blessings around us now and not just the ones in the future?
Waiting is not easy, we say, and ask again and again for the things that perhaps we aren’t ready for.
Perhaps it’s not time yet.
Perhaps we need to stay in that place of waiting a little longer.
Perhaps the waiting is meant to mature us, to prune us, to get us ready for the beautiful surprises that God has tucked away in our future.
Waiting is not easy!
But while we wait, though it may look like nothing is happening, God is creating a masterpiece.
Let us have eyes to see it.
Let’s enjoy the wait.
Image credited to Goodreads.com
About The Author
Abby
Abby is a teenaged writer who loves using her words for Jesus, to seek and point out beauty in the ordinary. When she isn't writing, you can find her jamming on her guitar, which she fondly calls "Raymond Fender the First", sitting on porches, or reading.
Oh my, this is such a nostalgic yet profound post. I read this book with the kids I babysit (About 1000 times XD) and I loved Mo Willems when I was younger. And while we can’t take “God is like Piggie” too far, it’s a wonderful analogy pointing to our incredible God’s patience and steadfast love.
Thanks for reading, Stella! Isn’t Mo Willems so sentimental? 😊 Haha, I get that. Don’t you love reading the same book over and over again to a kid? XD
Thank you for this post! I am new here and this is the first one I read. It is encouraging to me because lately I’ve been praying for some specific things and have had to be patient. God bless you!
Thanks for reading, Ann! 😊
Thank you for this wonderful reminder, Abby! I also hate waiting but you’re right, waiting grows us in ways we would never expect, teaches us patience, and sometimes gives other people the time to get to where they need to be for something to happen if we’re “ready.”
Thank you for this reminder. ❣️🤗 It was well timed.
Aw, thanks, Ella Rose. ❤
Abby…I love this. Mo Willems is amazing. My sister and I just read this post. She LOVES Mo Willems’ books. I love them almost as much as she does. But thanks for the analogy. It’s definitely something for me to think over.
Mo Willems’ books are so much fun! Thanks for reading, Caelie!
I really love Mo Willems too, and this was such a cool reminder. Thanks for this Abby!
Thanks for reading, Stella Mae!
Huh! I’ve never even see these books anywhere. They sound cute though!
I agree, We just need to have patience and wait on God.
I think I remember reading this book (and many other Elephant & Piggie adventures) when I was little. This is such a wonderful reminder to wait for God’s timing and to remember that He knows best and He has a perfect plan for each of us.
Also….how did everyone get a profile pic?
Elisabeth…through WordPress. 🙂 Since the site is a WordPress-powered website, if you have an account there, your profile photo will carry over.
At least that’s what I did.
Abby, great story on the importance of patience!!