Patience is a Virtue

Webster's Dictionary defines patience as an ability or willingness to suppress restlessness or annoyance when confronted with delay.

God's definition of patience is showing tolerance and fortitude toward others, even accepting difficult situations from them and him, without making demands or conditions. Patience allows us to endure a less than desirable situation to make us better and more useful and even more optimistic.

Living in the fast paced society we live in today we are programmed to not having to be confronted with delay; fast food, quick money (ATM machines), cell phones and the Internet. Let's face it, we do not like to wait! Then when things don't happen as quickly as we want, we don't know how to handle it. It leaves us frustrated, annoyed and sometimes angry.

I will be the first one to admit. I have a problem with patience! Just today I was confronted with delay in getting to lunch. I got behind one of the slowest drivers on the face of the earth! I wanted lunch and I wanted it NOW!! I have also been confronted this week with the delay on getting answers that would eventually affect people in my life who I greatly love. I have allowed it to make me frustrated, annoyed and even angry. I wanted answers and I wanted them NOW!!

I have had to stop and take a good look at what the lack of patience has done to my attitude and to my Christian walk. Impatience, annoyance, worry and fear are all opposites of patience. They prevent us from seeing, as God would wants us to see, that all things will work for his good in the end. We should hang on and place our trust in him. Patience allows us to wait on God's timing. Patience allows us to endure and move on even when we don't feel like it. Patience will allow us to cling to Christ no matter what happens. Patience is hanging on to what is good.

So, the next time you get behind that slow driver on your way to lunch; relax, take a deep breath and just thank God for life!

Never Too Old to Learn New Things

The age of communication. There is just so many ways to do it these days. Clay briefly mentioned setting me up on facebook over the Christmas holidays, but I brushed him off thinking, me on facebook? That's for the younger generation. But, when visiting 3 of my most favorite people in the whole world this past weekend, I discovered they are all part of the world of communication through facebook. Wow, here are 3 people my age engaging with people from all over the world! I have never been one to talk on the phone, even as a teenager. So, could this be a way to communicate without having to open my mouth! I became a little more interested as I watched my sister in law Alice as she wrote back and forth with friends. I began to ask questions and before I knew it she had me all set up. I was now a member of the facebook society. She gave me a quick tutorial on how it all works, but knew I would be on my own when I got home. Most of you who know me, know that I am always willing to try new things. Well this facebook is a new thing to me, but I dug in. It wasn't long before I had my profile all set up, including pictures!! I could hardly stop. I found myself with 18 new friends in just one day!! What would I do with that many friends? Was I becoming a facebook addict? No, no, not me. I am too old for this!! I soon realized that you are never too old to try or learn new things. Communication is the key to a good relationship and if facebook is a way to communicate with others count me in!! Thanks Alice for the inspiration!