Contemplating Patience

A few nights ago I found myself contemplating different levels of patience. I find that my patience varies throughout the day depending on the situation and the individual requiring the gift of patience. You know what I've realized? I get less annoyed with people I expect don't know any better. For example, I am usually (not always, but usually) much more patient with my students with special needs, then with my students I expect to know better. Whether or not this is fair or warranted is not the point of this post. My point is this:

What if God handled patience the same way I do? Losing patience because I should know better? Where would I be then?

"The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness.
He is PATIENT with you, not wanting anyone to parish,
but everyone to come to repentance."
2 Peter 3:9

Generational Crises

For some strange reason last night I found myself contemplating mid-life crises. Weird, I know...considering I am just 26. But, I think I have a theory. Now, keep in mind, I have absolutely nothing to back this up; but that is why it's called a theory.

I think my generation is going through the "quarter-life" crisis, if you will, instead of the mid-life crisis. Here's my reasoning: The stereotypical mid-life crisis comes to an individual who married young and quickly had a family. When that individual reaches mid-life, they suddenly find themselves in a crisis of, "Who am I outside of my family? What are my individual gifts/talents?" However, my generation is experiencing more time between the educational years and the family years. I believe we find ourselves in our mid-late 20s realizing that so far life is not how we pictured it; and, although life is good, is life what we really want it to be? Taking that into consideration, I find myself wondering if this means the mid-life crisis will pass us by because we did it in our 20s. Who knows? Like I said, it's only a theory.

"'For I know the plans I have for you,' says the Lord. 'They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.'"
Jeremiah 29:11

Reflective

I am in a little bit of a funk this weekend. Mostly I'm fighting off a cold, but the down time has led to a little bit of emotional blah. So, I decided to reflect upon things I love because I hate funks.

I love my puppy. She is almost 11 months old; fun to play with; and very cuddly these days. She also very in tune to my mood and gets cuddlier when I'm sick or in a funk. :)

I love playing games. Friday night I went to a friend's 30th birthday party. It was an absolute blast! We laughed until I knew my abs had gotten a workout! Then we played Texas Hold 'Em and laughed some more. I love conversation and games with good friends. It was a wonderful Friday night.

I love to sing. I've been asked before about what makes me feel the most fulfilled. Aside from rocking a baby, I honestly believe it is when I am singing. Singing brings out the most honest part deep inside of me. It is how I can really express my inner self. I pray I always have opportunities to sing with others, and that I never stop singing when I am alone!

I love volunteering at Children's Hospital. I just started spending every other Saturday morning at the hospital spending time with kids one on one in their rooms. So far it has been play time with toddlers and rocking time with sweet infants. Oh, what a blessing! It has been wonderful and sad and fulfilling and heart-breaking all at the same time. I wouldn't trade this experience for the world.

I love a good book. When I'm in a funk, books help me take charge of my thoughts and move them to other things when I just can't seem to stop my "stinkin' thinkin'" (as my dad would say).

I love the women's Bible study I have just started attending. Recently I got plugged in with a single women's Bible study through Prestonwood Baptist. What a blessing! It is so uplifting and so real! I've been longing for something like this, and the Lord opened the doors and led me through.

I love my Lord. These last two and a half years have brought me more ups and downs than I realized would be possible in my mid-20s. But, through it all only One has remained constantly Faithful. Without Him, I would be completely lost right now. With Him, I find the strength to continue down the path He is leading me, even though I see only Him and not the path in front of Him. He is blessing me every day, and unfortunately I all too often focus on the yucky way it can sometimes feel instead of the blessing of Him.

"Summing it all up, friends, I'd say you'll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies."
Philippians 4:8-9
The Message