Timing is Everything

And Mary said: “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me— holy is his name. His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation. He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful to Abraham and his descendants forever, even as he said to our fathers.” Luke 1:46-55 (NIV)

So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. Luke 2:4-7 (NIV)

Timing is everything. Not only did the doctor switch my blood pressure medicine, but I switched the time of day that I take it. I wait until dinner because while the new medication does not make me depressed, it does make me fatigued. By delaying the dose, I can get through the day at work. It made me think about how many other areas of my life where timing is critical. There is a video of a hand bell choir going around the Internet that reminded me of the days when I played hand bells. When you are part of a hand bell choir, you are given two to six bells that you are responsible for. Each bell plays only one note of the scale, and many choirs have several octaves of bells. Everyone reads along on their sheets of music and when a note of the song calls for your bell, you ring it. The choir must pay attention to their director and stay in time or the music becomes a jumbled mess with no melody and conflicting notes. Timing is also important it fusing glass. The other day, I was fusing a piece to make a bowl and didn’t leave the glass at a high heat long enough. I turned it off too soon, and the edges stayed rough and sharp. I had to reheat it today. My timing was off. Being a mom requires good timing, too. Sadly, I am just about perfecting my parenting timing as my boys fly the nest. Youngest son is about to graduate from fire academy. He is one of the twenty five percent who is finishing! He had his final exam today and made a 93! Ordinarily, I would have been one step ahead of him urging him to plan what he would do once he completed his coursework, but I didn’t. I just wanted him to finish. So, two weeks ago, he laid out three options for what to do next. He hopes to get an internship he has applied for out west doing search and rescue work in a National Park, but it does not start until May. So, what to do for five months? Get a temporary job, go for more technical training or go to our local community college and pursue his degree in Emergency Services. What? College? My son who HATED school? I knew he would rebel if I pushed too hard so just encouraged him to make his own decision. He surprised me on Monday by announcing he had enrolled at the community college and would be attending the spring semester. Timing is everything, and I have come to understand God’s timing is perfect. Another mom, a long time ago, waited for God’s timing. It was no coincidence that God chose Mary to bear His Son. Nor any uncertainties about the date or time of Jesus’ birth. Like Mary, I must learn to wait on God. And like Mary, I will praise Him while I wait.