The origin of the old saying, “Time and tide wait for no man” is uncertain but is known to date back as far as 1225. The general premise here is that no one is so powerful that they can stop the marching on of time.  This is just one more reason for me to be excited to be in love with an all-knowing, all-seeing, mighty powerful God who truly has the power to stop time.

“So the sun stood still and the moon stayed in place until the nation of Israel had defeated its enemies. Is this event not recorded in [The Book of Jashar]? The sun stayed in the middle of the sky, and it did not set as on a normal day.” Joshua 10:13 NLT

I’m convinced that what He’s done before, He’ll do again.  I believe He did it just for me-yesterday.  Yesterday I got a different glimpse of a “peace that surpasses all understanding” from a perspective other than death or loss. In the middle of a mall, in the middle of the day it was as if time stood still for me to embrace the moment. Logic suggests that my only way to be in that place at that time of weekday would be rushing on a “lunch break” to “get an errand done” to “rush back”.  I felt the peace of no time crunch and the freedom to do whatever I wanted in that moment.  Wisdom said it’s not a moment to buy what is not needed, but rather a moment to see the blessing in what others might view as a burden. For that moment, nothing lacking mattered.

Reality is that a lot of closed doors made that moment possible!! And for one moment I was thankful for every rejection, every setback, every loss.  I embraced that moment with joy and I vowed to continue to trust the process and season I’m in. In that moment, I loved me more than anyone or anything! Although I visibly left the mall with only a repaired IPAD and small “happy” for my kid, I left with a lot more inside than the natural eye could see. I left with a renewed hope of the promises God has made to me. I remembered the prophesies that have been given to me. I was reassured that continuing to love me and fully embrace my present is the best preparation I could make for all that lies ahead in my future.

That’s a patient love! That’s a true love! That’s a love that’s healthy for me and will extend itself to those God has predestined to be a part of my future. That’s a love that won’t chase what found it and won’t climb walls it didn’t build. That’s a love that waits for its perfect timing. That’s a love that forgives both self and others often. That’s a patient love.

And while time waits for no one.  Love does. In any recipe, the first ingredient is most often the “primary” or “main” ingredient. It doesn’t surprise me one bit that Paul begins his ingredient list in 1 Corinthians 13 for love with patience!