I had my grandsons this last week for five days. I love them. They are amazing! Andros is 4 and Kalan is 2, and they are sincerely so smart and funny! But they WORE. ME. OUT. Especially Kalan! I didn’t realize just how much they are always on the go until I watched Kalan run in circles around the island of our kitchen for almost 23 minutes. And I’m not exaggerating; it was hysterical! He would take a turn around, go past our dog, Ruger, say ‘Scuse me’ and keep going around and around.
I don’t know where he has the energy. However, the one thing I noticed because he’s non-stop is that my patience would start to wear thin. He wasn’t doing anything wrong, but when a child that’s so focused wasn’t paying attention to what I was saying, I would start to get irritated trying to rein him in.
Thank goodness for a God who is patient with us! Over and over in the bible, it says that He is slow to anger, gracious, and loving. And that’s even after we run around and do what we want to do without paying attention to His words and commands!
Then the Lord passed by in front of him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth;” –Exodus 34:6
“But You, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindess and truth.” –Psalm 86:15
“’And rend your heart and not your garments.’” Now return to the Lord your God, for He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in lovingkindess and relenting of evil.” –Joel 2:13
“who once were disobedient, when the patience of God kept waiting in the days of Noah, during the construction of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through the water.” –1 Peter 3:20
Even when the Lord was waiting for repentance from the people in the days of Noah, or when the Israelites were complaining in the wilderness, and when Jonah ran and hid (unsuccessfully), He had patience and gave time for them to repent and to turn back to Him! He did not just immediately get mad and cut them off. He gave us opportunity to walk our way back to Him and His ways.
I thank God for the patience that He has for us! I’m thankful that He’s not like us where we can fall so quickly to irritation and getting upset. I pray that this week we can see the patience of God in His love for us and model that towards those around us.
~Erin
Iron Porch 