Lord, Give Me Patience

This one is for my girls and nieces who are out there with their hands full of babies and the responsibilites that go along with that. Hang in there, it won't be long until you'll be missing the noise!

"Is your life full of difficulties and temptations? Then be happy, for when the way is rough, your patience has a chance to grow. So let it grow, and don’t try to squirm out of your problems. For when your patience is finally in full bloom, then you will be ready for anything, strong in character, full and complete. “-James 1:2-4 (TLB)

           "Excuse me? Be happy? Give patience a chance to grow? You HAVE to be kidding me, right?    These four kids are driving me crazy, that makes me unhappy and I don’t have time to let my patience grow, I need it NOW!" Those were my thoughts about 30 years ago. They weren't easy years.

            I had four kids in seven years. Yes, I know, I asked for it. But no one told me how hard that would be. (probably because they knew I wouldn’t listen anyways! )  It wasn’t so bad during the summer, I could send them all outside and lock the door behind them. I know, The Walton kid’s mom never did that but, I’m not her. There were days when I just need an hour of peace and quiet.
            On those days I often thought of my grandmother who was mother to thirteen in a house half the size of mine; and eleven of those kids were boys! Not only was there no TV or fast food, there were no automatic washers or dryers either!

            But Gramma had red hair and a disposition that went along with it. And my dad said there were days when that is all that saved her. That and the apple orchard. He said when the crazieness of 13 kids got too much for her, she would take a huge tub of potatoes out to the middle of the apple orchard and start peeling. If you went looking for her and she saw you coming, she would throw her apron up over her face and you knew to back off.

            So when life gets crazy, find yourself an apple orchard and an apron and get yourself a little solitude.

            Obviously it is good for the soul. It worked for Gramma!