Comments on: Losing Patience, Losing Love

By: Enim

Enim — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 20:49:02 +0000

Love is indeed Patience, and love is all we need because he first loved us and has commanded us to love back.

By: Jessica

Jessica — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 20:00:33 +0000

Hi,

Thank you for sharing your post. I’m a 22-yr-old mother with an 8-month-old, and currently battling depression over some rough patches in life. Too often as well, I’ve lost my patience. I’ve never had much patience for babies to begin with, and their demanding nature is truly draining even for a person that loves babies to bits.

I commend you and respect you for highlighting the importance of patience. You’re right, it is an important part of love. But I hope you do not guilt yourself thinking you are detached from God every time you lose patience. Each aspect of love that Paul writes in Corinthians can be challenging from time to time — forgiveness, endurance, trust, etc. — depending on one’s circumstances. It’s human to fall short from time to time. When we \lose it\, our behaviours become unloving, but that doesn’t mean we have completely lost the loving intentions within us. God knows that, and moreover, He knows that you will return to His way. That’s why inside you, you feel the Spirit telling you to calm down.

Each day I still struggle with my impatience, but when it simmers down, I say a prayer for strength. I know this is a process, and my living conditions make it harder. I ask for help from others, and yes, it is also wise to take some time off from being Mommy. Remember, the humble patience isn’t always achieved instantly, or when needed. God knows we will fall again, time-to-time, in this imperfect world. What’s good to know is God will have patience with us.

By: Anita

Anita — Fri, 01 May 2009 15:01:28 +0000

Thank-you for this post. What a wonderful gift you have given to MY children.

When I look back on the (many) times I have lost my patience, I see that it is when I have been the most selfish. When my plans are interupted…when I have to do something I don’t want to…”can’t they see I’m researching/learning things that will make me a better mom/teacher/nutritionally minded cook? I’m doing it all for them!” HA!

I’m doing it for me…but I should be doing it all for HIM.

Thank-you again for the reminder to LOVE my children.

Anita

By: Joye

Joye — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 13:34:11 +0000

This is such a great post! “Losing Patience is Losing Love”. What a very wise statement–now I just need to remember it in those “moments”! I hopped over from At the Well and I’m so glad to meet you. ^_^

By: Mrs. Parunak

Mrs. Parunak — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 01:55:46 +0000

Rina,

Thank you for your wonderful encouragement! I’m so blessed to know you, too.

By: Rina

Rina — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 01:08:02 +0000

Oh wow. I just love you, Mrs. P. You always say things that stick with me… and change me, and make me strive to be a better mom/wife/follower of Jesus. Thank you so much for your ministry. I’m so blessed to know you.

By: Meghann Jones

Meghann Jones — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 21:04:13 +0000

This is so right. I found in my own life when I was losing my patience WAY too often that once I began to have my quiet times with Jesus first thing in the morning, it really helped me. I still am not “perfect”, but I am just reminded how desperately I need His help daily and can do nothing in my own strength. Especially keep my patience!

Great post!

By: Lori

Lori — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 01:52:58 +0000

Thank you for this.

By: Linda

Linda — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 10:18:02 +0000

Dear Mrs P, some christian preachers on t.v would just tell you to get over it, but I’m not going to. I love your honesty.If christians speak the truth to each other we can all encourage and help each other to grow, lovingly and with patience. Yes we all have bad days, thankgoodness we can pray daily for our daily bread spiritual as well as material.From Linda.

By: L.

L. — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 20:31:02 +0000

I agree that losing one’s patience should not be any parent’s excuse to give in to a child-like outburst.

I think the WAY of losing patience matters much more than whether or not it is lost. God gave us our breaking points for a reason — we need to use them wisely!

For instance, when my kids were small and misbehaved in public, losing my patience often meant going home, immediately — which, in retrospect, was usually the best thing to do.

Losing my patience with a teenager frequently results in suspension of privileges. Sometimes losing my patience leads to “tough love” — which often doesn’t look very loving on the surface (certainly not to the child being disciplined, in the moment).

I try to always keep in mind, it’s when my kids are hardest to love that they need my love the most.