Patience

Have I mentioned that I love that we are doing our home study with our friend Darla?  What a blessing it is that she is a part of this with us and God is using her in Judah’s story.  I was really dreading going through the whole process of having a social worker all in our business again but with it being Darla we feel so comfortable talking with her and I’m not even worried about having her here on Monday for our final visit to look through the house.  I also feel a strong connection with her because she also has a special needs child so she can relate when I talk about different things I may be struggling with.

Last week when we met, Jack and I had to do a personality test and I got done quicker than him (faster reader :) ) so I had a few minutes just to sit and talk alone with Darla while he was finishing in the other room.    She asked me if there is anything that I have been particularly struggling with in the process so far.  I said I haven’t had a chance to really sit and be still too much because everything has been at lightning speed so far but I’m sure I’ll get to that point.  My frustration has just been with people saying they’ll email me something or get something done and I have to ask for it a few times before it finally gets done.  I know it’s ridiculous when I know so many other people have had to wait a TON more than we have but I get myself so caught up in the black and white of why not just get it done NOW?!?  So anyway Darla was talking with me about the patience of this process and how even though I don’t feel I’ve had to wait too much God will still be teaching me patience.  So true :)

I wanted to share this from the devotion Emma and I did tonight.  Thought it was fitting and Emma even said “mom, the only thing I’m having a hard time being patient about is meeting Judah!!”

Patience with Others and One’s Self

God has chosen you and made you his holy people.  He loves you.  So always do these things:  Show mercy to others, be kind, humble, gentle, and patient.  Colossians 3:12 NCV

The dictionary defines the word patience as “the ability to be calm, tolerant, and understanding.”  If that describes you, you can skip the rest of this page.  But, if you’re like most of us, you’d better keep reading.

For most of us, patience is a hard thing to master.  Why?  Because we have lots of things we want, and we want them NOW (if not sooner).  But if the bible tells us that we must learn to wait patiently for the things God has in store for us.

The next time you find your patience tested to the limit, remember that the world unfolds according to God’s timetable, not yours.  Sometimes, you must wait patiently, and that’s as it should be.  After all, think how patient God has been with you.

The times we find ourselves having to wait on others may be the perfect opportunities to train ourselves to wait on the Lord.  -Joni Eareckson Tada

(anyone finding themselves singing the “Have Patience” song??  ;)