Donald, Is It Time Yet?

I put a biscuit on the table,

Donald sat beside my chair.

His eyes got big, his tail went wild,

He never looked away from there.

I said, “Donald, you can have it,

But you’re gonna have to wait.”

He sat down hard and stared at me.

“Okay, Dad.

I’m waiting.

…Is it late?”

I said, “No, Donald.

Just wait.”

He nodded.

Two seconds later—

“Done waiting.”

Wait a little longer, Donald,

You don’t always get it now.

Keep your heart right while you’re waiting,

That’s what patience is about.

You can pout, fuss, bark, and holler,

But it won’t change the time.

Get right.

Do right.

While you wait in line.

Later I was in the kitchen,

Waiting on my supper plate.

Microwave said twenty seconds.

I said, “Man, I hate to wait.”

Donald wandered in behind me,

Sat right down beside my shoe.

He said,

“Dad, why don’t you try that patience thing

You told me I should do?”

I said, “Donald, this is different.”

He said,

“Why?”

I said, “Because I’m hungry.”

He looked at me.

“So was I.”

Well…

That dog had a point.

Wait a little longer, Donald,

You don’t always get it now.

Keep your heart right while you’re waiting,

That’s what patience is about.

You can pout, fuss, bark, and holler,

But it won’t change the time.

Get right.

Do right.

While you wait in line.

Next morning we were riding,

Stopped beneath a big red light.

I leaned forward at the windshield.

“Come on! Turn green tonight!”

Donald looked up from the passenger seat

Like he’d been waiting all day.

“Dad, is yelling at the red light

Gonna make it go away?”

“No.”

“Then why are you yelling?”

I didn’t answer.

He said,

“You could sit.”

“I am sitting.”

“Then sit nicer.”

Sometimes waiting feels forever.

Sometimes we don’t understand.

Sometimes God says, “Not right now,”

When we already made our plans.

But patience isn’t doing nothing,

And it isn’t getting mad.

It’s doing what you know is right

Even when waiting feels bad.

Wait a little longer, Donald,

You don’t always get it now.

Keep your heart right while you’re waiting,

That’s what patience is about.

We can trust God in the waiting.

We can choose the better way.

Get right.

Do right.

Even while we wait.

I picked up Donald’s biscuit.

I said, “Okay, boy. You waited good.”

Donald grabbed it.

CRUNCH.

Then looked at me.

“Dad?”

“What?”

“I learned patience.”

“I’m proud of you.”

“So…

can I have another one?”

“Donald.”

“What?

I’m willing to wait.”