Microwaves and learning the value of waiting

The patient person often ends up avoiding regret - Audio Podcast

Practicing the virtue of patience.

God Stuff podcast for 12/3/17

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Giving Room For Mistakes To Those We Love

Most of us have had the experience of seeing people we love make mistakes and wishing we could stop what was happening. We don’t want people we care about to have to deal with the difficult consequences of unwise actions. It breaks our hearts to see them in pain.

But many of us have also discovered that there is a process of learning, growing and maturing that must take place in life. And an unavoidable aspect of this maturing process involves making mistakes. We cannot learn to walk without falling down.

Hey, think about it: there were people who loved us and they could not prevent some of the mistakes they saw us making. In a very similar way we will not be able to prevent some of the mistakes we see people making.

I’m not suggesting we can never help or give wise counsel when we see people heading in a direction that will cause pain. If we can intervene and prevent troubles, that’s great, we should do so. But sometimes they will not be ready to hear our advice and we will have to endure the heartache, be patient and… pray.

Our Special Needs Children Are A Blessing

It is not uncommon for parents of special needs children to feel a sense of shame. Oh I know, there are people who will quickly respond to such a statement by saying, “What are you talking about? Stop saying that! No one feels that way!”

But I know this is true despite any protests to the contrary. It can seem to the special needs parent that something went wrong and, therefore… “I [the parent] must be defective or at fault in some way.” Embarrassment or shame can follow.

I know these feelings are not correct. I am not approving of these feelings or defending them I am simply pointing out that they exist.

There is even an impulse to want to pin the blame for what has happened on one of the parents. I know this because I have had people wonder aloud whose side of the family this comes from, mine or Nadia’s, when it comes to the special needs condition of my daughter.

Having a special needs child will present challenges. Most of us with special needs children will have our patience challenged to a degree we never imagined was possible.

In my case, the staggering amount of questions I get from my special needs daughter on a daily basis makes it feel like I’m a contestant on an episode of Jeopardy that never actually ends. The show just keeps running all day, every day.

“I’ll take ‘Needing More Patience’ for $400, Alex.”

And I am certainly aware of the truth that some folks who care for those with special needs deal with a much, much greater level of challenge than I do.

However, in spite of everything I have just written I believe most parents of special needs children will say their child has been a unique and wonderful blessing in their lives. (I write this with the full understanding that there will be some exceptions to that previous comment. Some parents will have such extraordinarily difficult circumstances that they will not see it this way.) But most of us will recognize the special needs child in our lives is a gift to us from God.

The person with special needs is not a partial human being, he or she is fully human. He or she deserves the same respect, dignity, love and grace that any other person deserves. He or she is not one of God’s mistakes, they are God’s beloved.

To parents of special needs children: do not feel shame or embarrassment. Our children are not a punishment that has been brought upon us because we are broken or because we have done something wrong. Our children are persons God has brought into our lives and families for a reason. Our children are a blessing.

We Know God's Will When It Comes To These Things

There are certain things that God always wants us to do and be.  In other words, we don’t have to wait to hear from God about these matters because He has already clearly spoken.   So we can go ahead and get started on being truthful, gracious, fair, kind, generous, patient, respectful, humble, forgiving, generous and loving—because we know that’s His will.

We Never Know What Others Are Dealing With

After many years of offering counsel and a listening ear to others I have come to realize that there are always things going on in people’s lives that we don’t know about—sometimes there will be painful, stressful, difficult things happening that we don’t know about. I don’t say this to suggest that this gives people permission to behave any way they want, but I do say it to suggest that we be willing to extend patience, mercy and grace.

I'm Glad God Is Patient

Over and over again, the Bible describes God as patient.  This is good news for you and me.  In the book of 2 Peter chapter 3, vs. 9, the Bible says, about God, “…He is patient for your sake.  He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.”  I am thankful today, for a God who is loving and gracious and VERY patient with someone like me!

Wisdom About Follow Through And Patience - Audio Podcast

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