Thank God For Patience

Some of the best parenting advice I have ever been given was from my mom when my kids were six, four and two years old.  It was summertime, hot outside and I was having a tough time with maintaining everything in the house and trying to keep a peaceful household. I felt as though every time I finally had something the way that I wanted it, someone would come into the room, and right after it looked as though a tornado had spun through. Can you relate?

I was probably tired, frustrated and in need of some alone time with no relief in sight. My mom called just as the littler kids had gone down for a nap and I said, “Mom, I am going nuts!  I feel like I have no patience even though I keep asking God for patience!”  She said, “Don’t ask God for patience, thank God for the patience he is giving you.”  

I know I have learned the power of speaking of things as though they already exist – this brings to mind Romans 4:17, “the God who gives life to the dead and calls into being things that were not,” but I never thought that applied to my life, only to a pile of bones (apparently I was too literal and missed the metaphor before this lesson!)

Sure enough, as soon as I started saying to God, “Thank you, Lord, for the abundant patience you have given me today!  I am so grateful that I can be calm and patient with my children,” things started to turn around.  I am not trying to say that I never lose my patience with my children (even now that they are 21, 19 and 17!), but when I do, I jokingly say, “Lord, thank you for helping me to be patient with my child!” and if nothing else, I laugh and that makes me feel a little better.  Where have you seen this show up in your life? 

Stacy LaMorte is a wife and mother of three. She is a personal trainer and is also enjoying her new profession as an ADHD and life coach to adolescents and adults. She enjoys spending time with her family and her two dogs, gardening, writing, travel, reading and exercising.