When was the last time you lost patience with your child? This week? Today? 5 minutes ago? Well as a parent of a toddler (going on teenager) and a newborn, losing my patience is something that is a regular occurrence. It's something that I am not proud off.
The other night I was putting my toddler to bed. If any of you have experienced the "why" stage of toddler-hood (yes I am deeming that a stage) you will understand the difficulty of bedtime. I'm not lying...this was the conversation:
Toddler: Hey Momma.
Mom: Yes
Toddler: Hey momma, why do tigers roar?
Mom: That's how they talk to each other.
Toddler: Oh. Hey Momma.
Mom: Yes
Toddler: Why do we say "Now I lay me" at home and "God is great" at daycare?
Mom: Because we say "God is great" at meal time and "Now I lay me down" at bedtime.
Toddler: Why are we not allowed to throw balls in the house?
Mom: Because you might break something.
Toddler: And granny and pepaw be mad?
Mom: Yes
Toddler: Who else?
Mom: Granna and Pep-paw
Toddler: Who else?
Mom: Grandma and Grandaddy
Toddler: Who else?
Mom: Momma and Daddy
Toddler: Who else?
Mom: Think about it (as I am leaving her room).
But before this conversation happened a few nights before I started losing my patience during her bedtime. The questions become ridiculous and causing her to not become tired. I laid my head on her bed and started to pray to God. It dawned on me that God must have a lot of patience for me as an adult who should know better. How many times have I faltered and God is still there? How many times have I questioned Him and He is still there?
In the middle of praying my daughter was talking and I told her to be quiet because I was praying to God. (Once again how many times have I prayed to God and did all of the talking and He has told me to just hush up?) My daughter said, "I don't know how to do that." "You don't know how to do what?" was my response. "I don't know how to talk to God." she said. Talk about a humbling moment. I began to tell her that when she says her blessing and her night night prayers she is talking to God.
Humbled by a two and half year old. Humbled by a nearly three month old when I see him smile at me and coo. Lately I've been changing my perspective from easily frustrated (ok...lets be honest...I'm working on it) to that of a more patient parent.
"Whoever is patient has great understanding, but one who is quick-tempered displays folly. Proverbs 14:29. Are you parenting patiently? Are you seeking God to gain understanding? My prayer is that all parents learn to have patience (in all stages of parenting).
