Patience

Strength arises as we wait upon the Lord. I am learning that more and more. We are focusing on "Patience" this week. I decided in order for my boys to get what these fruits mean, that we will have to focus on them one at a time in our home and in our family. I believe in order to raise boys after God's own heart that we do have to focus on these things. I am a theme person and it helps me not get overwhelmed with everything. Knowing that there are a million things I am to teach and help practice with my children before they grow up, has caused me to start working on these things one at a time. They are not just going to figure it out one day. They have to be taught, reminded and most of all told how to receive it. We are learning that practice is important and the biggest thing we can practice is showing them time after time how to ask The Lord to give them and us patience. Above all is the example they see in our home. Also, I want them to be familiar with asking for these fruits in difficult situations especially when they just want to blow up. We need the Lord to help us make the right choices and choose patience instead of loosing it and blowing up, throwing fits, and being impolite in hurrying others.

We as a family have been learning more about patience as a whole as we wait on answers from the Lord concerning us. We would not have chosen to wait and wait, but we have learned that this waiting has been neccessary to build patience in our lives. It has really stirred in me more of an importance for making sure my boys are intentionally practicing it. So since we have been focusing on it, we have noticed how every little thing requires patience!!!!! We as adults do not like to wait, but have you ever noticed how little kids DO NOT like to wait. This week has pointed it out to me even more. We are going to take next week to focus on it too. We need the extra week. This occurred to me as we were having a fun family day yesterday at "ITZ Family, Fun". It is a fun place with games, pizza, etc. Cruiser is only 3 1/2 and it is normal for kids to not be patient, but oh my, he showed me that we need to spend more time on this fruit. He doesn't like to wait for his turn, among other things. None of us really do, but we do have to learn how to choose patience in those circumstances.

I know that every day is a lesson. We are teaching our children as we walk, talk and play with them on a daily basis, but this REALLY focusing on one fruit at a time is helping me. It is giving the sense of accomplishment with teaching them. My sweet friend Cathy reminded me last week that inspite of our mess ups as parents, He blesses our efforts and DESIRES. We so DESIRE for our boys to grow up knowing who they are in Christ. Patience is a hard one for us all. For all of you with boys, I saw a book in the Christian book store that is called "Growing Boys After God's Own Heart" by Elizabeth George. Check it out. It's a kid's book to read to your children. The biggest thing I am reminded of is we have to be intentional with children and never check out. We only get one chance and the time is very short.