Last week my husband and I watched Fireproof, the Christian marriage film starring Kirk Cameron. I know its been out for some time but we just got around to watching it and it was very good. I reserved it for free via our local library.
After the movie, my husband got online and reserved the Love Dare book – also via our library. We are going through it together. As he read chapter one aloud about the importance of being patient with our spouses do you know what came to my mind?
My kids. In particular my oldest whom I had been very impatient with that very day I think.
That chapter wasn’t just about pointing out that spouses become impatient with each other, it described it in a way that was practical for me to apply and I saw where in my life I was lacking… my kids.
My boys and I are together almost 24/7- for realz. I’m rarely without them since I homeschool and work from home. So when I’m tired and cranky or they’re tired and cranky- there’s usually no escape.
Of course, this isn’t the first time I’ve been convicted (and found guilty by my own conscience no less) of being an impatient parent. The following verse from God’s preserved Word can be applied to our children as well as to how we treat other believers (which is the context of this passage) :
“And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you. ” Ephesians 4:32
On retrospect, perhaps God gave me two energetic boys to teach me… patience!
I battle impatience, too. Some of it deals with multi-tasking different sons needs and wants. If one son has just wiped me out emotionally, I need time to re-group before another son jumps in with another need. When I miss it, I talk to them about it later, ask their forgiveness – I think sometimes that is the most important lesson – letting your children see you handle those moments you miss – afterwards. A seeking forgiveness, a repentence.
An important thing to keep in the forefront of our minds..thank you for the reminder.
Oh boy do I need to spend time in God’s word, meditating on “patience” scriptures. I seem to have gotten more impatient with my family since I became a stay at home mom.
Following from the MOB society. Mom to two little boys.
http://milestonesoffaith.blogspot.com/
Kerry
“And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you. ” Ephesians 4:32
GREAT VERSE!! Definitely one for me to think on when my patience is running short, as it so often does!
Visiting from Thought-Provoking Thursday also 🙂
Blessings,
Mindy
Wow, I can relate… I know God puts people and circumstances in my path to have me work on certain virtues. I enjoyed your post today — coming to you from Thought Provoking Thursday!