Monday, Monday

I often remember the song "Manic Monday" from when I was in high school and it seemed to fit with my circumstances all too many times.   This Monday started with a quiet house, in the dark, and leaving for work at 6:15 a.m.  It was great to get a early start, home by 8:15 to start school.  Well, that's where it all falls short of the glorious plans I had in my head at 6:00 a.m.  Nothing has seemed to move at the speed I desire and with the motivation that I expect from my children.   Laziness abounds right now and no amount of motivation or fussing seems to get thing moving.    This is were I have to find grace from my heavenly father in order to show grace to my earthly children.   How can I teach them when they are not listening, wanting their own way, thinking that they know best and are not heeding my instruction????  How too often I find myself in this same situation with my Father; too busy to take the time to listen or pray, thinking my way is best, and ultimately wanting God to answer things in the way I see fit.  This all sounds so familiar.   I am watching my children react to me just as I often times react to my heavenly father.  So, I am lifting up my eyes to my Father for help so I can show the same amount of patience and grace that He gives to me each day.  I found this commentary this morning when I was searching the fruits of the spirit, patience.  You can find this and other articles at the website below.  

In Exodus 34:6, when God passes before Moses, He preaches him a sermon on His attributes, fulfilling the proclamation of His name:

And the Lord passed before him and proclaimed, "The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering [patient], and abounding in goodness and truth."

Patience is a major characteristic of our God, and that should fill us with gratitude.

God's patience delays His wrath, allowing time for good to occur.

Jonah 4:2 expresses this:

So he prayed to the Lord, and said, "Ah, Lord, was not this what I said when I was still in my country? Therefore I fled previously to Tarshish; for I know that You are a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, One who relents from doing harm."

We should also note the other qualities patience is combined with in these last two references. In combination with patience, the qualities of grace, mercy, lovingkindness, goodness and truth allow God to work with people so they can remain alive and eventually transform into His image. If God struck out at people just as short-fused humans frequently do, no one would be alive today.

Read more: http://www.bibletools.org/

Wow, this is humbling.  I  have to give my children not only patience but time to allow God to work.  I love the part where it says "allow God to work with people so they can remain alive..."  I chuckled when I read this this morning.  How many times do I loose my temper quickly when my children don't respond fast enough.   God is longsuffering/patient and he combines this with grace, mercy, goodness, and truth, and is actively working to transform us into His image, both my children and myself.   I am so grateful God doesn't deal with me as I deserve but deals with me through His hands of grace and mercy.