Watching for Daddy in the Fog - Laycock

The little girl’s nose was pressed into the window pane, her chin cupped in a small hand, her breath making a small circle of moisture on the glass. She peered into dense fog beyond the window, fascinated and a little frightened.

She had never seen fog like this before, so thick it blotted out everything normally seen from the window, even the bright street lamp on the corner. She knew fog like this was dangerous and she knew her daddy was out there somewhere, on his way home. Every now and then the little girl turned to look at the kitchen clock. Every minute that passed, without any sign of her dad, made her a little more anxious, but she kept up her vigil. She stayed at the window for a long time and at last was rewarded.

Out of the grey mist, her father materialized, smiling, happy to lift his child into his arms when she ran to him with a shout of relief – “Daddy, you’re home!”

There will be a day when we will be taken into the arms of Jesus in the same way. He promised, as He left this earth, that he would return one day. He will appear, as my father appeared out of the fog long ago, and He will expect to be welcomed.

Waiting for Christ to return is a lot like that little girl waiting for her dad to come home through the fog. We can’t see beyond our present state. As much as we may peer into the future, it is hidden from us. We cannot see what is unfolding in the spiritual realms. Often we glance at the clock and sigh. Will it ever happen? Will the One who loves and cares for us as no other can ever arrive? We don’t know when we will see Jesus materialize before us, yet we believe, by faith, He is out there and He is on His way home.

Luke 12:35-40 describes this point in time – “Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, like men waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him” (v.35&36). Notice the first two phrases in this passage – “Be dressed, ready for service.” We are to be occupied while we wait for Him, serving one another as we long for his appearing. “Keep your lamps burning,” don’t give up.

Though the fog of this world is dense and allows no glimpse of the spiritual realm, keep watching with expectation. Say with the prophet Micah, “But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Saviour” (Micah 7:7). There will be a day when we will joyfully cry out, “Jesus, you’re home!”


Marcia is the winner of The Best New Canadian Christian Author Award (2006) for her novel, One Smooth Stone. Visit her website - www.vinemarc.com