Earlier today I found myself on the phone with an estimated wait time of 5 minutes or less.  It had already taken me only about 5 minutes to get to the 5 minute waiting point.  I had done what we are all familiar with…called the phone number pushed the right prompt to be prompted with more prompts then finally getting to the place I thought I was supposed to be only to be asked for my access code… access code? I have and access code??   I ignored the access code prompt 3 times and held my breath hoping the system would not hang up on me.  Oh the joy I felt when a recording said “we are sorry there seems to be a problem we are sending you to someone who can help you” Yeah!  A live person!!  I hear the familiar clicks, a ring, then another click and I am told I have an estimated wait time of 5 minutes.  I tried to be patient; I put my phone on speaker phone and worked on something else while I waited. There was a friendly recorded voice on the other end telling me over and over again all the wonderful things that the company had to offer me.  ”Why not have more employees to answer the phone?” I muttered to myself, nobody could hear me I was being patient… wasn’t I?  After about 4 and a half minutes I noticed the friendly recorded voice I had been sarcastically talking back to was suddenly silent.  Holding my breath I peaked at my phone, just as I suspected… I had been disconnected…

In the Bible it says in Colossians 3:12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

Wow is that hard to do. In my home when no one can see me do I really have to have patience?  Who’s it going to hurt?  Nobody will know…right?  WRONG, God still sees me.  He knows everything I do.  I still see me and I know everything I do.  Would Jesus act like I did on the phone?  Would he talk to the recorded voice on the phone sarcastically like I did? I know it seems minor in the scope of things but really that tiny bit of impatience got my blood pumping for at least 20 minutes.

How many times have I found myself getting all the red lights when I am late for work or behind the lady with 6 kids spread out all over the place in front of me in the store?  What could I have done to have more patience or what may I have missed while I was steaming?  During those times at the red light I could have been checking out the beautiful sunset.  In the store I could have been noticing the cute little child laughing as she was skipping along without a care in the world.  As far as the phone I can not think of anything I could have been enjoying more than maybe a real live person on the other end taking care of me immediately with no prompts and no holds. But it’s really not all about me is it?   And that is where the patience part comes in.  I think maybe I could try to be patient just a tiny bit harder or actually a whole lot harder.  When I am patient it really does make for a better day.  I know I will never be perfect, but  the more I walk with Jesus by my side  the more often I  catch myself when I am not behaving patiently.  I am so glad Jesus has patience with me 🙂

1 Timothy 1:16 But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life.