Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Patience.


"Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming.
See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop,
patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains. "
-James 5:7-

The term "patience" has been on my mind for a great deal of the day today. I guess it has been on my mind lately because of waiting to hear if I have been accepted into nursing school. Patience is definitely not something that is easily acquired, for me anyways. In today's world, you have instant access to anything you want! You take an exam and within 10 seconds you have a grade posted in blackboard. Have a question? Google it. You just might have to wait an entire three seconds for the page to load, but you get an answer.

I wonder why God just doesn't allow us to go ahead and know things in life, but I am glad that I don't know all the answers. I am glad that God gives us the opportunity to practice patience. Do you think we would have such a dependence on Him if we didn't need to wait for His perfect timing?

God has allowed me PLENTY of opportunity to practice patience this semester. If you know me at all, you know that I like to do everything to my absolute best! Perfection is something I constantly find myself striving for, but I know I will never be perfect... until that day I get to see my Savior face to face!

Opportunities for "Practicing Patience"

1. Patience has been difficult to find sometimes, especially with being assigned to FIVE different group projects! It's too much to handle sometimes. The lessons in patience occur when trying to schedule a time for everyone in our group to meet. I guess I am just a natural leader, because I find myself being the "project leader" for absolutely every project. It often pays off by earning an A, but it would be nice if the people I didn't get to choose to work with would have some motivation to make an A. Patience!

2. Being placed onto the alternate list for nursing school has been another lesson for patience. I am very fortunate that I was able to make the alternate list rather than being flat out rejected, but it's hard sometimes when you see most of your friends know that they were accepted into the program and you won't find out until middle of December or the day before school starts. (I appreciate all your prayers for me to get a seat!)

3. Waiting to start my new job. I am excited that I was hired on at the hospital, but it has been frustrating waiting to get started. Having an interview in August and being told you will start by the end of the month, then getting your start date pushed back all the way to Nov 7th can be a challenge. Challenging because I don't have that steady income- although small- coming in to help pay for gas. It has been quite amazing how God has allowed me to get "odd jobs" here and there just in time to fill the gas tank.

4. Living at home. While this is more of a blessing while attending college, it also requires patience. Me and family members sometimes have disagreements about certain things. I have to learn that it is ok that they have different views on life than I do, and that one day when I have children, they will have different opinions than my own.

5. Waiting for a girlfriend/wife. It's probably more on my mind now more than ever since Rachel has been engaged. Maybe God has been wanting me to wait because He knows I will be accepted into Nursing School and that will consume a lot of my time. I don't want to get a girlfriend that I have to put on the backburner because I need to study for an exam or have clinicals the next day. Maybe I will find a girl while I'm in nursing school and she will have just as busy a schedule as I have and it work out great. Who really knows? It will all happen in His time, and I pray that I will be wise enough to realize it when that moment comes.

Tests on patience are not my favorite, but where would I be if I didn't have to depend on God to guide me through these challenges. Having patience and giving my stress over to Him is a constant battle, but to the best of my ability, I am going to choose to be patient.

"Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap,
which have neither storehouse nor barn; and God feeds them.
Of how much more value are you than the birds?
And which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?"
-Luke 12: 24-25-

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