All Things Considered, post 5
Patience is a two-way street
I must admit, in my youth I wondered if getting married and having a family was worth the effort. The thought of “settling down” was as foreign as becoming a minister. God has plans of his own, and I thought my education at Ball State University was enough of a foundation to get me through life. There are two related sayings, “Patience is a virtue,” and “Good things happen to those who wait.”
Under the right variables and conditions, I decided to get married to Sylvia. She accepted my offer, and we have Jason, who is 12, and Emily, 8. As a husband and father, I have come to know why patience is a virtue. It is a learned characteristic. You can’t find it in a box or a pill, and it doesn’t grow instantly.
The path to becoming a minister also was something that I fought at first. I wondered, “Why me, the worst of all sinners.” But that is another discussion. The coming of Jesus in the form of a man was foretold long before His birth. The concept of time is an invention we humans try to measure as accurately as possible, but to God time is something different, and hundreds of years passed before the words became a reality, much like years passed in my life before I accepted the task to become a minister and to have a family of my own.
But patience is a two-way street. There are goals and perhaps, promises, fathers and mothers give to their children. But on the other side, when we pray to the Lord or when children ask of things from their parents, the requestors, so to speak, must also have patience. Like I said, you can’t find it in a box or a pill, and it doesn’t grow instantly. The impatience of youth demands answers, and answers now.
As a parent, sometimes decisions and requests are often delayed or put back on a list of more important tasks. This must also be with the Lord, when we ask for instant answers or promises of a better future. There is a song that says it is best when God doesn’t answer all of your prayers, at least in the content when initially made, because with patience and time a better answer will come along. As always, Jesus, especially, his presence on this earth, is the best example this concept.
In our drive-up, order online society, the answers to important questions seem like they are easy to find. By looking at patience from both directions before crossing the street can a decision be made to cross safely.
Peace be you with always,
Rev. Paul Abernathy
Contact Paul Abernathy at paulabernathy@gmail.com.
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