Attitudes to Cultivate: Patience

By Rose H.

Patience. Not getting ticked off. Waiting calmly. Being kind to people even when they aren’t being kind to you.

Patience hasn’t been one of my strong suits. I want things now. I want quiet now. I want my lunch now. I want the task to be done now. I want my sibling to act more mature now. But the task whether raising kids or making dinner takes time. The more time that is involved, the more that we need patience.

Like anything in this life patience isn’t something you get overnight. It’s something that God grows in you. And He does it by putting us in situations where our patience is tested. The kids are acting up, and we didn’t sleep well. We are on the phone with a heavily accented tech person trying to get a computer problem fixed and they are being very much help. The person in the car in front of us is going way below the speed limit and now you are going to be late.

It’s in times like these when God grows patience in us. When we are at the breaking point. When we just want to blow off some steam. When we can’t take another minute. That’s when He teaches patience. Even though you can’t control the people around you, you can control how you react. And you can choose to be patient.

First of all. Just talk to God about how you are feeling. If you are close to boiling over, let Him in and let Him help you calm down.  Secondly just let it slide. Whoever is driving you up the wall needs to be forgiven. Then just go on your way carefully, be gentle and kind to everyone. It’s easy to blow up at people, it’s hard to use self-control and react in patience.

So next time the kids are driving you insane and dinner isn’t ready when you want it, just use it as an opportunity to practice patience. Come on let’s go.

Summer Camp

By Rose H.

During the summer most kids don’t stay at home. They are off to camp or go on vacation.

We do our best to make summers fun and interesting. We want to make time off enjoyable and constructive.

This summer why not have camp at your house? Instead of going somewhere, get the kids together and do some fun projects every day. Buy some fun food and enjoy some relaxed time together.

Or if you don’t have kids of your own yet, get together a group of kids and offer to do a week long day camp for them. Plan out crafts and activities and share Christ with them wherever you can. If you get overwhelmed, pull your friends in to help. It makes a great team project.

It’s a great way to strengthen and encourage those around you. Plus it helps build great friendships with others.

So what are you waiting for? Get out there and start planning, summer vacation will be here before you know it. 

Ministry Month Challenge Day 29

Today I taught at co-op today. Now I'm tired, but I feel good. I love my students. Even though we drive each other nuts sometimes, but we have so fun anyway.

Ministry Month Challenge Day 13

Today I'm making another preemie baby gown. So fun and soft. I was working on it at a friends house and their six year old son comes up and asks me what I'm building. LOL! Kids are the best!