"Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion. For the LORD is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!" - Isaiah 30:18
This is the place to find ideas and tips for keeping our patience in check. We all blow our tops from time to time, but it is more likely to happen when we are stressed or feel as though we are pulled in too many directions. The following list offers suggestions to make things go more smoothly, hopefully helping us all to better model patience for our families. For more ideas, see Mothering Like The Father: Following God's Example in Parenting Young Children, available by clicking here. If you have an idea to add to the list, send Dianne a message through the Keep In Touch button.
- Make time for God
When we first make time for God, we do a better job of making time for our husbands and our children. God also blesses our effort by giving us a greater feeling of peace as we go through our busy days. We all have things we need to work on that require uniterrupted thought. Designate the time before your kids wake up in the morning or after they go to bed as your time for "thinking" projects. Don't waste this time doing laundry, cleaning the kitchen, or working on things you can do when the kids are around. Use this opportunity to string an entire thought together in peace and quiet. Every human body works a little bit differently, and our needs change after each preganacy. Give yourself time to relearn what you need to function at your best. How much sleep do you truly need? How much exercise? What foods make you feel energized? No one is patient when they don't feel well. Take the time to figure out what makes you feel great so you can give your best to your family.
- Make a list
Experiment to find the type of list that works best for you. Maybe you need a master list of everything needing to be done. Perhaps you just need to jot down three things you can accomplish today. You can even simply list your one priority for the day. The list that works for you is the one that helps you feel in control of your day and allows you to focus on the job at hand. Get creative and think about other kinds of lists that can help your day go more smoothly. How do you handle your telephone messages? Your shopping list? How about your meal planning?
- Know what is important
Take some time to clearly identify your values and priorities. Once you've done this, don't let the urgencies of life keep you from living in accordance with your values. When we spend the day putting out one fire after another, we feel tired, frustrated, and unfulfilled. This is a perfect recipe for impatience. When an issue presents itself, take a moment to assess what truly needs to be handled right now, what can go on the to do list, and how you can respond to the sitation in a way that reflects your values.
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