Wait for the Lord

“I would have been without hope if I had not believed
that I would see the loving-kindness of the Lord
in the land of the living.
Wait for the Lord. Be strong. Let your heart be strong…”
Psalm 27:13-14 (NLV)

            I was raised in a Christian home. Faith was always a part of who I was. In college, even though I was in a sorority, I was never a crazy partier. If I veered a bit in the wrong direction, my conscience helped turn me back to the right path.

            I knew that when I married, I was supposed to be “equally yoked.” When I met Joe Maiocco, I knew I’d met my match. Over time, as our relationship developed, we both realized that God meant for us to be together, and we married.
            No marriage is without its difficulties. Like in most marriages, my husband and I had to work really hard to get through some things, but in so many ways, I felt as if my life was charmed. Joe became a naval officer. Our first duty station was Hawaii! When we had our son, Joseph Maiocco, IV, I felt certain he was brilliant and far beyond his years!

            “How many families get to do all the cool things our family has gotten to do?” I asked myself, feeling grateful. When we learned that God had blessed us with a set of identical twins, I thought my life could not have been more idyllic.

            And then we got the news that our girls had special needs. 

            My first response was to question God: “After following you my whole life, Lord, why have you allowed this to happen to me?” Then I tried to bargain: if I took our girls to every healing service there was, surely God would cure them of their disability. When he didn’t, my trust and dependence on him had to grow—sometimes with me kicking and screaming, always with lots of prayer! It wasn’t easy, but God always came through.

            At our parish in Cleveland, people were great with our girls. When we were called to Florida, I was nervous, but I needn’t have been. Our girls are treated even greater here in Naples.

            Through it all, deep within me I heard, “Just wait. It will get better,” and it has.

            Today, at thirty-one, our daughters have a place in this world in which to share their own unique personalities and gifts. While Lisa is responsible and goal-oriented, Lauren is generous and adventurous. They both are givers with hearts for others, particularly those in need.

            God used adversity far more than abundance to stretch my faith. While I waited for him to come through for me, he strengthened my trust in him until I finally got it: we can trust him in all things, especially in those we hold most dear.  Janet Maiocco