Patience is a virtue, just don't pray for it!

  

   I have heard my whole life that patience is a virtue. We are told as children that if we just wait, good things will happen. Everyone wants to be loved and love in its essence is patient, so shouldn't we wait for it? This is one of those concepts that is much easier said than done. One of the most annoying questions that can be asked is the dreaded, "Are we there yet?!" As humans, especially in today's culture, we don't like to wait. I always try to appreciate the day that I am in rather than looking forward to the next but it isn't always so easy.

     A couple weeks ago, Emily and I headed east to North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, for a little vacation with the fam. A full seven days on the beach sounds relaxing enough, right? What is there to possibly stress out over? Apparently I, like many other of the male species, give myself an agenda for each trip I am on. I am not talking about things to do when I get to my destination but rather what is to happen in order for me to reach my destination in the allotted time that I have aimlessly given myself. For some reason, I decided that 3:30 EST was the latest that I needed to make it to the beach. We had no plans that day, in fact, we ended up just laying around on the beach for hours when we got there. Regardless, we had to make it by 3:30 or perhaps our condo would fall into the ocean and we would have to just turn around and come home. Emily and I used to love taking road trips together. Now I just like taking road trips with her and she dreads me having a panic attack when she says she needs to go to the bathroom. (In my defense I had only allotted 4 stops that trip and our extra break cost us five minutes). Luckily we made it on time, although it almost cost me a wife. Wouldn't it be much easier if I was just patient and enjoyed the ride?

     After I graduated high school, I realized that I had wished those four years of my life away. When I began my freshman year of college, I promised myself that I would try to enjoy each time of my life as I go through it. Although I obviously don't always follow my own philosophy, it has helped me to appreciate the little things in life a bit more and not stress out when things don't go my way. Many of us have things that we are waiting on right now whether it is a job, a phone call, a raise, losing weight, the next vacation... Whatever it may be, just realize that life itself is a process, so be patient. I know there are some reading this who are on a path to losing weight and improving their overall health. To you I say, enjoy the process and be patient. The results will come.
     Two weeks after I got back from our vacation I had prayed for patience.  On my trip back from New Orleans last week our plane was delayed 7 hours and my car wouldn't start when I finally did make it back to Nashville.  (It is much funnier now than it was at 9PM that night).  I keep forgetting that people always tell me not to pray for patience because it will get tested...they are right.  Isaiah 40:31 is one of my favorite scriptures and a theme I am trying to live by in this season. "But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint."
    
BTW:  Emily and I are heading to San Fransisco later this week.  I'm just going to focus on today...