Testing Patience

It's been a long busy day. After you finish helping your mom put away the food from dinner, you head to your room to put away your laundry. But as you enter your room, you gasp: "What just happened in here?!" There's your little brother, jumping on your bed- and all over your freshly folded clothes. Totally upset, annoyed, and frustrated, you let your anger out on your little brother- who only wanted to have some fun.

Hey friends! Have you ever experienced something similar to this? I have four younger siblings, so this is an everyday battle for me. Sometimes it's really easy to lose it when someone does something to get on your nerves.

Have you noticed that God has a lot of patience when it comes to us? Throughout the human race, we see His patience. Think of the Israelites. God called Moses to lead out of slavery and to the Promised Land. They didn't always want to do what God said. They complained about having only manna to eat, about the long journey, and they even wanted to go back to slavery in Egypt! Even the Jewish leaders turned their backs on Jesus while He was on the earth and crucified Him.

Yet God's love has never failed. Although we may get on His "nerves" sometimes, He's always patient and loving. Since our goal as a Christian is to follow Christ's example, we should be patient and loving with everyone we meet- even our siblings. 😄

"Love suffers [has patience] long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely." 1 Corinthians 13:4.

When you feel like you're going to losing your temper, take a deep breath. Say a quick prayer, then address the situation. Remember to stay calm. By explaining how you're feeling, rather than taking quick actions, the outcome of the situation will most likely be better, for both you and your sibling. 😄

Has there ever been a time when you lost your patience? How did you overcome that? Let me know in the comments!

Blessings and Love!