Patience

One thing that I have never been good at is having patience.  I've always tried to work on it, and for certain things it works and for other things it does not work.

Life is so complicated and everyone is always in a rush.  Everything has to be done right away and the faster the better.  We need our crackberries so that we can always be in direct contact with the world around us.  We have become so dependent upon technology that we tend to forget that it is alright to speak to someone over the phone or even better, in person.  What a simple concept this is that so many people forget about.  We are all about sending text messages, emails, myspace comments that we lose that human touch.  Yes, sometimes it is convenient to text and email when we cannot speak.  However, there are many people that are so used to that way of communicating that we forget what it's like to be in the presence of others.  That we all need human contact.  We need to see each other and speak to each other in person.  We need to be able to reach out and touch each other.  We need to hug each other when we need it.  You cannot do that over the phone, email, myspace, or other means of communicating.

What kind of relationships do we have with one another?  We never really get to know each other.  We lose that intimate contact that our souls so desperately long for.  We actually need each other.

We need to learn how to slow down.  To take each day for its own.  Recognize the beauty in our relationships and in our own lives.  We need to realize that we do not have to do everything so fast.  That relationships and other important things take time.   

If we want something to grow into something beautiful we have to nurture it and love it and take care of it.  We have to let it happen at its own pace.  We cannot get upset with God when we don't get our way.  We have to rely on Him and trust that He knows what He is doing.  

God places people and situations in our lives so that we can grow and learn from them.  If we want something to happen we have to allow God to take control of it.  We have to be patient and wait on God's timing.  My timing is not His timing.  All the great leaders of the Bible had to wait on God's perfect timing.  When something wonderful was to happen they had to be patient.  We all have to learn this.  Patience is a virtue.  It is a gift from God.  When we are sitting in traffic and running late, are we patient?  I know I'm not.  I'm usually pissed off and angry at the "stupid drivers" in front of me.  Even though it might not be their fault, it's probably my own for not leaving early enough, but that's where I have to be patient.

The first step to loving is being patient.  We all know these verses 1 Corinthians 13:4-8

 4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

 8Love never fails...

When we love someone are we being patient with them?  Are we waiting on them?  Are we letting them do the things they need to do?  Are we allowing them to grow in Christ and in their own life?   Or are we trying to rush them along and force them to do what we want?  I see parents doing this to their children all the time.  I saw a man at Disneyland one day in line to see Belle.  He had an itinerary and his little girl just wanted to spend time with Belle because in the words of 4-year olds "I'm your favorite princess Belle".  My point is Belle was trying to spend time with the girl and the dad crossed off "princess" from his list, took the picture and literally picked the girl up by her one arm and said "Time to go!  We have to get to the haunted mansion".  Well, needless to say the little girl started crying because after all she was dressed like Belle and the 45 seconds her dad allotted for her to spend with Belle just wasn't enough.  The dad however, told her to stop crying and that they had to stay on schedule.  Now first of all, you don't come to Disneyland with an itinerary and secondly, you don't rush your children when their dream of meeting their favorite princess or other character finally comes true.  It was just heartbreaking to watch.

We all forget to be patient.  It is so easy to do.  But just look around you.  Look at the beautiful world you live in.  Go down to the beach or look to the mountains and you will see God's perfect craftsmanship.  You will bear witness to the beauty that is in God's eyes.  Look at the stars at night and just realize how amazing it is that God created all of this for us.  For us to live in and enjoy.  To look back to Him and worship, praise, and thank Him for all the wonderful things He has given us.  

There is beauty everywhere.  Just take the time to slow down and enjoy it.  Be patient with those we love, those we want to love, or those we just need to love.  They will come to you when they are ready.