She said it would take a while

About 3-1/2 years ago, when we lived in northern Thailand, we bought some interesting heart-shaped plants at the Chiang Rai Flower show.

We asked the person selling them if the leaves would actually grow.  She said they would, but it would take a while.

We found out the plant is called sweetheart plant (Hoya Kerrii).  It is an epiphytic vine. We've seen it in the wild and it looks like this:

One of the plants died while we were still in Wiang Kaen.  The other survived, and we brought it to Phon Phisai.  Last September (2 years and 8 months after we bought it), it looked like this:

It's amazing that a plant could be around that long, still be alive, but not change at all.

Finally, after 3-1/2 years, it looks like this:

While the looks pretty much the same as it did, there is a surprise in the back.

Now that a vine is finally starting to grow, I wonder how long it will be before it flowers.  Most species of Hoya are grown for their flowers.  Maybe it will flower before we retire.

I'm not always very good at the waiting thing, and I have been tempted in the past to just get rid of the Hoya.  But it takes minimal care, so we just hung onto it.  After all, the heart-shaped leaf is cute.

And waiting can be a good thing.

We who put our hope in Jesus are eager for His return.  We wonder why Jesus tarries.  We're tired of living in a world corrupted by sin.  I read the news each day and silently ask, "How long, O Lord?"  How long must we put up with violence?  How long must we put up with destructive disregard for God's creation?  How long will people continue to hate?  How much exploitation must we endure?  Rapes and robberies.  Idolatry.  Greed. Pollution. Immorality.

How long will God even put up with my own sin?

As Paul writes:

We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.  Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. (Romans 8:22, 23 NIV)

But waiting can be a good thing.  While we who wait for Jesus are eager for His return, those who do not yet know him will get no benefit from an early arrival.  For them, it is better if Jesus tarries.

The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. (2 Peter 3:9 ESV)

This will probably take longer than the 3-1/2 years I have waited for my Hoya to start growing.  But however long it ends up being, it will be worth the wait.