Waiting and Watching

This afternoon as I loaded up the dishwasher, "the boys" rushed over from their bed to what I have started calling "the tasting station." Charlie took a couple licks at a knife with butter on it, and Baxter tried to lick the edge of a bowl with soup drippings left in it. (You will be relieved to know that we sanitize our dishes!) They did not want to miss the opportunity to get in a few licks of something good.

Then as I was makinc soffrito (Puerto Rican liquid seasoning for rice), they came right over to sit at my feet. Their eyes followed my every move, and they trotted behind me to the fridge, and back over to the blender on the counter across the kitchen. When I moved to the stove, they both came closer so they wouldn't miss anything. Maybe I would give them a bread crust, or a lick of the cream cheese wrapper. I do this occasionally, much to Sam's dismay...
If they are particularly good and my heart can't take not giving them any tastes of human food, I offer them puppy bisquits.
"Want a bisquit boys?"
Baxter yips in excitement and Charlie leaps up and down as if he has springs in his heels.
"Dancing, dancing!" I sing out, and they jump up on their back legs, dancing furiously in front of me.
I give them half a bisquit each.
"Now...." they look at me expectantly, Baxter trying to sit in front of Charlie so he can be closer to me.
"Now... lie down." They go flat to the floor in unison, and look up at me through their eyebrows. I can hardly bear how darling they are--so in earnest, and so eager to please me.
"Good boys!" and I give them another half bisquit.
I clap my hands together several times to signal that we're done with their tricks, and tell them what good boys they are. They wag their tails and nuzzle against my legs. Even though I know I'll have to wash my hands (again!) before I resume cooking, I rub their heads and cheeks.
"Good boys! What precious boys!" and they wag their tails before sitting down just out of range to see what I'll do next in the kitchen.

What strikes me is how vigilant they are. Watching and waiting. Just like Christians are supposed to do. Don't miss an opportunity for gifts from above. Be available for every chance to move in and take advantage of what is being offered. Watch and wait. The right thing will happen at the right time, and if you're not sitting there waiting eagerly, you'll miss out.

We Christians have been told to be ready for Christ to come back. We are to watch every development and with unflinching dedication, be ready for whatever opportunity there is. If you're anything like me however, you have spiritual ADHD. It's hard to focus on spiritual things for too long and difficult to avoid being sucked into other activities that grab at your attention more than sitting and waiting does. And yet there's Christ's command: "Be ye therefore ready, for the Son of man commeth at a time that ye think not." Like Baxter and Charlie, I hope to be steadfast, near at hand, and waiting for the Lord's blessings and most of all, His coming.