Steadfast Patience

"For you have need of steadfast Patience and endurance, so that you may perform and fully accomplish the will of God, and thus receive and carry away, and enjoy to the fullest, what is promised."

I was talking to my son last night and I asked him to clean up all the dishes that were in his room (he has a verocious appetite after I go to bed!) and put them them in the diswasher.  After about an hour, I asked him again and then again.  I'm sure some of you can relate!  It's frustrating dealing with a teenager at times and for me, this particular teenager, exasperates me!  After about the third or fourth time, he looked at me and said, "I thought you said my only job right now was school?"  Now, in all fairness, I did say that his job right now was to focus on school, but I do not believe I said "your only job is school".  This led to a whole other discussion, the end result of which being that he cleaned up his mess.  It took all of 6 1/2 hours from the first time I asked and it was painfully executed!   I long, at times, for when they were younger and eager to help...     When I went to bed last night, with a clean kitchen, I knew that the morning would bring yet another mess, and the "discussion" would begin all over again.

I woke this morning and gave the day to the Lord and asked Him what is was that I lacked and needed for this period of time in my life.  He led to me to the Scripture above.  Patience...really?  Not what I wanted to hear!  I decided to keep reading... I read all the way to the end of the book of Hebrews, which is so full of passages regarding Faith and I was encouraged.  But, as I took it all back to God in prayer, he lead me back to the word PATIENCE.

I could not help recalling all the times (well some of them) that God has been patient with me. I am, by nature, one who, like my son, drags his feet when I'm not ready or willing to do something.  The streak of rebellion that runs down my back has been passed down to my child, and for that I repent.  I have tried to justify for years rebellion and stubbornness, I have even tried to give it another name--a more christian-like name, but it is what it is.

  Rather than trying to disquise it I have given it to God in exchange for His nature.  Doesn't that sound Great?  It is; but walking that out each day is difficult.  I have to guard my mouth (put chains on it at times) and close my eyes, and know when to speak up and know when to be silent, and know which roads to take, and sit on my hands when I want to strangle someone, and, and, and......  Phew!      In my own strength, it would be impossible.  But God (there are those words again!)  has given me the Holy Spirit!   And the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, Patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness and self-control.  I love the fact that everything I need to walk out this time on earth has been provided.  I love that I can pray in the Spirit, that I can sing in the Spirit, and most of all, that I can count on the Spirit to move me when I would have been stubborn and unyielding.

As for my son, well, like me, He is a fixer upper too!  God is not finished with either of us and while construction is going on, things can look pretty darn messy!