Patience is a virtue that we all struggle to extend to others. This year is our son Jordan’s first year of middle school. To say that this year has been an exercise in patience for all of us would be an understatement.

Jordan is an extremely gifted and talented boy. However, due to his new school environment and the new regiment of dealing with 5 teachers per day instead of 1, he has been a little overwhelmed this year.

Recently, he lost his video game privileges here at home due to his slow adjustment to the requirements of his new teachers.

I serve a patient God that expects me to continually strive toward perfection. However, I also serve a merciful God that has extended forgiveness and patience toward me even though I’ve failed Him 10,717 days in a row.

His mother and I have had numerous talks with him about areas he has let slip this year. We understand the adjustments he has had to make this year and we have extended patience to him as best we could.

Last week I had a one-on-one conversation with Jordan. I told him that I know he is much smarter than his grades are indicating.

I told him that I was disappointed in how he is performing this year; based upon the level of work I know he is capable of doing. School has been in session for 85 days so far.

Be ye Perfect, as Your Heavenly Father is perfect… Matthew 5:48

Our Heavenly Father has high standards. He expects us to continually strive toward perfection. In striving toward perfection, we will grow and mature spiritually.

My New Birth date is August 15th, 1983. Since that date I’ve been growing and maturing in my spiritual walk with God but by no means have I even scratched the surface when it comes to knowing God as I would like to know Him.

I have been striving toward perfection every day since 1983. I begin each day at 7AM with such excitement, believing that I will make today my perfect, sinless day.

Sometimes I make it to 7:15AM. Sometimes I make it to 7:30AM. And on a good day, I make it to 8:00AM without spoiling the quest for my perfect day with some sort of sin.

It may be a thought, it may be a word, or sometimes it’s an act, but try as I might, I haven’t had a perfect day yet. Today is my 10,717th day in a row of failure in my quest for the perfect, sinless day.

The Patience of God

As a parent, we want our children to excel in whatever they do. Particularly if it’s something we know they have the capacity to excel in.

God sent us His Word as a guide to godly living. He sent us His Holy Spirit to empower us to live out His Word in our daily lives.

Yet, because of our sinful flesh and our un-renewed minds, we sin daily. Thank God for His grace. Thank God for His forgiveness of sin!

I serve a patient God that expects me to continually strive toward perfection. However, I also serve a merciful God that has extended forgiveness and patience toward me even though I’ve failed Him 10,717 days in a row.

In my expectation of perfection and excellence from Jordan, I couldn’t even last 85 days without expressing my disappointment in him academically this year.

I think it’s time for me to go and have another talk with Jordan, and be the example of patience to him as God has been the example of patience to me.

However, 10,717 days of missing homework assignments from Jordan?

……well, that’s another story.

 

 
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