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Have you ever noticed you appear totally calm in the midst of an extreme situation and then totally lose it over something almost trivial?

Why IS that??

As I keep saying, I have a multitude of circumstances swirling around me that continually challenge my emotional stability and my faith…we all have big deal stuff lurking in the wings, don’t we?

I am seemingly “doing alright” on the more challenging days (perhaps not all those days but…)

I can somehow handle things that hurt my feelings, make me feel left out or undervalued, things that affect an unknown future, issues that I have to step back and watch work themselves out…the list is endless, right?

I mean, most days, I wake up to do my time with God, get dressed, go to work even…I am doing alright.

And then….

Something crosses my path, that in the BIG scheme of things is not a huge deal- it is not cancer for crying out loud, a Crohn’s flare up, or one of the other issues that plague my prayer lists continuously- and I seem to react so hugely out of frustration I can’t see past the end of my nose.

What is that?!?

Know what I mean?

We are talking about dealing with college concerns, financial concerns, life and death issues folks…and a schedule or plans change causes a bigger ripple effect into my psyche than a 2×4 into my car.

Please tell me I am not alone here.

Shocker fact- my devotion this morning speaks to this:

“Patient people can stay calm while enduring lengthy waits or dealing with difficult people and problems. I encourage you to examine your own life: to see how you respond to waiting and difficulties. This will give you a good measure of how patient- how loving- you are”( Jesus Always).

Difficulties and waiting.. I seem to do ok with one OR the other not ‘AND’.

The fact that I “blow” over the small stuff is as significant as if I were freaking out and falling apart over the bigger stuff. Both those reactions would ultimately reveal (if I am being honest) that I have a patience and a loving problem.

Man.

Reflection in the morning is not fun.

One can argue that I am struggling with the bigger stuff so therefore I react strongly to the smaller stuff…as if that makes it ok.

The reality is that my reaction to the smaller stuff is stealing my joy and consuming my time.

The smaller stuff is doing that, not the bigger stuff.

The bigger stuff seems to make me want to appreciate and enjoy life…to just BE. It is the small stuff that gets in the way of that happening.

So apparently I need more patience to keep that from happening…

Who wants to pray for THAT?!?

We all know that THAT prayer brings about challenges to work the “patient muscles” out…I don’t want that kind of work out! I barely work out as it is!

But, I can’t keep reacting in frustration, anger, annoyance, irritation, impatience at these inconveniences or disappointments either.

Patience is a fruit of the Spirit…I heard once that all the fruit listed in Galatians 5:22 were all demonstrations of the Spirit of Love- who is God Himself.

So patience is a gift from God that demonstrates His love…His love for me. His very character.

Being patient, taking a minute to breathe and remember the perspectice of the bigger things while being hassled by the smaller, will allow me to show and receive LOVE.

In perfect love there is no fear.

For God so loved the world…no one should perish.

Greater love has no man than he who would lay down his life…

My goodness, the “love” verses are so numerous….they are what we achieve with an act of patience.

Perspective in the morning…it’s a God thing. ( in my proofreading I saw I meant to say “good” thing but autocorrect switched it to “God”- pretty appropriate I think)