Patience

Sometimes we have to almost lose someone or something before we realize we weren’t patient in a decision. Often we think too much or move too quickly to our own detriment.

Sometimes we look at the world through a screen door and say, “I want that. I want it now”. But we aren’t seeing “out there” clearly through a screen and sometimes, it’s just not as simple as opening a door to get there. Once in awhile the door is locked because the timing isn’t right. Sometimes we have to wait for that door to be opened for us. And many times, the reality on the other side of that door isn’t exactly what we thought it would be when we hurriedly pushed through it.

We don’t always wait for God, as in the story of Abraham and Sarah in Genesis 16. Sarah rushed ahead of God, and Abraham complied. And because of their rash, hurried decision their family suffered heartache as well as future generations. Still to this day, the turmoil of that one decision is felt throughout the world. I’m not saying that our impatience would create worldwide chaos but it can cause a fair amount of grief within our own self and pain to those in our inner circle.

My eye twitches when I hear that certain “p” word. It’s like a tiny rock in my shoe; irritating, because I don’t want to be patient. As I reflect on my past, I did honor patience in some things. I was even patient to a fault, because there were times I shouldn’t have been. So I do understand patience. As I get older though, I want desperately to get things done now…you know…before I can’t. I see a deadline ahead of me and I panic. Truth is, I am on the downward slope of life and it’s scary. I have a bucket list to check off, personal ambitions to accomplish, and blanks to fill, along with day to day survival. So I want to hurry. It doesn’t work very well though, jumping ahead of the timeline. I am not too old to learn but learning is often painful.

Sometimes, we need someone in our life who is more patient than we are. They help us remain in the starting block until the timing is right. Be thankful for that person. Don’t scare them away with your unthought-out, hurried decisions and craziness.

What benefit would it be to keep learned lessons to myself? Maybe someone else struggles the same me and just maybe, I can help to connect their dots. That’s my hope anyway.

Patience is a virtue. Respect it. Embrace it. Learn to love it. It will only bless your life.

One of my favorite Bible verses is Galatians 5:22, concerning the Fruit of the Spirit. I guess I must read the fourth fruit really fast or just skip over it. But it’s in there and it’s pretty important.

Galatians 5:22
“But the Fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, PATIENCE, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” ESV

Thank you for stopping by. You mean a great deal to me.

Andi

Photos: sunset & Queen Anne’s Lace, July 23, 2020