Considering Patience

Bill Gothard defines the character quality of Patience in the following way:

"Learning how to wait to fulfill personal goals.  Increasing the time you can wait between achievement and reward.  Learning to accept difficult situations as from God without giving Him a deadline to remove them."

I have always struggled with patience. While examining my heart, it becomes apparent that I am most likely to become impatient when things don't go the way I thought they should. I have a preconceived ideal that should universally apply to every person and situation. Did you not receive a copy of my plan? How is that possible?

What it boils down to is another quote from Bill Gothard: "When we focus on our rights, it produces rebellion. When we focus on our responsibilities, it produces revival.

I tend to believe I have a right for things to go my way. I want the kids to do what they are told the first time, or at least the twenty-seventh time. When they don't, it is easy for me to become impatient with them. If things are left out instead of put away, I can get irritated. Of course with this many children I could make a list of examples that would fill reams of pages, but I think my point is sufficiently established. 

When I feel that frustration welling up in my soul (mind, will, and emotions), what is my response? Do I rejoice that I am once more given another opportunity to practice patience? Or do I respond in the flesh and dishonor my Lord. Do I think to myself, "I shouldn't have to _________________ again." Fill in the blank with whatever. How I respond depends on whether I am focusing on my "rights" or my "responsibilities." 

The Lord taught me a huge lesson when He told me to "own my job".  I had to really study that concept because it certainly didn't come easily to me. I am someone who sees the world as black or white, right or wrong. I have to constantly remind myself that most people do not have the same perspective. It has to do with our spiritual giftings. To own my job requires me to remember that the dots in my head connect in a very straight line, but those over whom I have authority need me to have expectations and give directions in such a way that connects their dots. Some of my children's dots connect in a very, very circuitous path. I am not mentioning any names, kids. When I work out of that understanding, my frustration level drops, as does the frustration of those following my instructions. 


We have so much fun when I remember that the shortest distance between two points, while definitely the most efficient, is not nearly as scenic. And I do love great scenery.