From The Pastor’s Pen – By Brian Horrobin
I came across an excellent definition some years ago for the word “linger”.
LINGER – to stay in a place longer than necessary, typically because of a reluctance to leave.
Think for a moment about all the places where you may like to linger.
It could be a family Christmas gathering, a warm bed on a cold, dark winter morning, a visit with an out-of-town friend over a hot beverage, or maybe a long gaze at the cascading waters of Niagara Falls.
We linger because we don’t want to leave.
We stay longer than is necessary because this may be the only chance we get or we may not come back this way again.
Lingering helps to elongate those precious moments when the time allotted seems insufficient.
My dad did this to me on the last night I saw him alive.
It was as if he knew there would not be another opportunity for our company and he told me, “I love you.”
That was over 34 years ago and I would give anything to have a replay of that night.
I believe our heavenly Father also wants us to linger in His presence, and to carry this out with the loved ones in our lives.
When you linger with someone you are saying, “I enjoy your company and wish it would not come to an end. Let’s make this last a little bit longer.”
You don’t act hurried, you don’t check your watch.
No, you simply appreciate the moment and bask in it.
I make it my aim to do this with God each morning with my Bible open, and I try to do this with the ones He has put in my life.
Why not practice a little lingering this week?
It may slow you down a little but it will also fill you up!
