Lefse and waiting

Grandma Roste and I made lefse and Norwegian flatbread today. I would like to make it a yearly Christmas tradition to do that with my Grandma. We were both amazed at how smoothly the lefse-making went because we had all the necessary equipment, used a great recipe, and had no lumps in our potatoes. With a two-man team, patiently and faithfully working together through each step of the process, the lefse pieces turned out marvelously. Mmmm, delicious!

Grandma and I talked about the past a lot today. She explained how desperately poor they were growing up, and how hard they worked. When Grandma and Grandpa got married, they started to farm, and got hailed out two years in a row. They decided to move out to BC for better opportunities to work, etc. They were only able to visit their hometown and family every once in a while. Grandma only got to go to two of her 10 siblings weddings. I asked Grandma if she ever felt discontented, and she said "no, there was no point in being upset about it or wishing it was some other way, because that's just how it was." My Grandma is someone who exemplifies servanthood, self-sacrifice, love, generosity, humility, and contentment. One of the greatest compliments you can give me is that I remind you of my Grandma Roste.

Discontentment. This is something I have been convicted of today... something I have been mulling over and over in my mind. Sometimes I can feel disappointed with the ways things are, and become impatient for things to be set right.
The scripture comes to me: "I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want." Phil. 4:12. I wish I knew the secret too!

I have a hunch that I do know the antidote to some of these negative things that plague us: ingratitude - disciplined thankfulness; worry - seeking to trust God more and relying on His promises; etc.

Last night at Refresh at Calvary Lutheran, Pastor Karl talked about being content in waiting. Advent is a season of waiting. Sometimes waiting can feel really hard and we don't like it. I feel there are many things I am waiting/hoping for in this life and after, and it sometimes seems like they will never come soon enough. This waiting and hoping can easily turn into impatience and discontentment.

Kevin DeYoung, in his book "Just Do Something", says "we've assumed that we'll experience heaven on earth, and then we get disappointed when earth seems so unheavenly. We have little longing left for our reward in the next life because we've come to expect such rewarding experiences in this life... I'm pretty sure most of us would be more fulfilled if we didn't fixate on fulfillment quite so much". I think he's very right.

A question has been put to me again: "can I be content in waiting, even if some of the things I am waiting for may never come to pass?" Scripture says "in this world you will have trouble" (John 16:33), and I realize that life is not going to always be lollipops and candy canes. Think of Job! Can I be content when life is "as it should be" and when it isn't (in my view, anyway)?

The fuller context of that verse in John 16:33 reads this way: "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

I want this peace and contentment in all things. I Tim 6:6: "Godliness with contentment is great gain." So, for the remainder of this advent season, I'm going to do an in-depth study of waiting. Waiting with contentment, patience, hope and expectation, thankfulness, joy and peace.

Just as our lefse pieces turned out marvelously, I pray that as I seek the Lord and ask Him to shape me, that I will more accurately reflect Jesus, which would be truly marvelous, and definitely worth waiting for.