Did your life ever seem to be moving along slowly, so that time was creeping along as slowly as a snail? Waiting for something special—vacation, birthday, or someone returning from war—can be challenging, especially for children. What if we took that waiting time and made it a time of celebration, connection, and learning?

Rather than brooding over the absence, we can brood over the expectation. We can plan activities, learn new things, or bask in the small stuff. These little things pass the time while waiting and enable us to feel more connected with the people we love. Do you recall the last time you were waiting for an important thing? How did you spend your time? Did you lament over the waiting, or did you find ways to make the most out of every day? Just like Max and Lily, can we all make the most of our waiting hours by finding ways to make them joyful? Trying something different, spending time with loved ones, or merely noticing the little things are all opportunities to anticipate with eagerness.

For a motivational example of how to do that, look at “The Homecoming Countdown” by Nicole Lowther. This story beautifully encapsulates the waiting around for someone you love to come home and offers creative ideas for getting the most out of it. With shared experience and affection, the characters in “The Homecoming Countdown” show that even when we yearn, we can be happy and whole.