Yesterday evening while walking to the beach, Alejandra was expressing her impatience in waiting for a letter. Technically, it was supposed to arrive last week; however, I think God enjoys seeing us squirm. What do I mean? I’m glad you asked.
I’m not saying God enjoying torturing us, but He enjoys teaching us lessons that we need to learn; like patience, for example. We often pray for God to give us more patience, most of the time it comes in the form of another person stretching us (the Christianized word for annoying). In Alejandra’s case, God has probably blown a gust of wind and sent her letter on an around-the-world journey until she realizes that He’s in control and demonstrates that in waiting patiently.
In this, I hope you realize that I believe God has a sense of humor (have you seen Finding Nemo? I think God was laughing as He created some of those fish.) If we only realized that, then the stretching people He sends along our path are more humorous than annoying. I’ve been praying for God to show me His abounding, unconditional love so that in turn, I can show it to others. Last Monday afternoon I was asked to be a substitute teacher in grade 2 for the rest of the week. When I came home on Wednesday afternoon, I lovingly named the rowdy 8 year-olds “the children of the korn”. They were horrible. However, I asked for God to show me His love… and He did. He did it in a way that made me squirm, but in a way that I learned the lesson I needed to.
I believe that’s one way God works. Now, I can look back and laugh at Federico as he ate half his glue stick and at Mauro who colored his classmate with whiteboard marker when I wasn’t looking.
1 comment:
Sure hope Uraguayan glue isn't toxic!
This reminds me of the movie "Evan Almighty" with Steve Carrel. In the movie, God asks Evan "When people ask me for patience, do you think I give them patience, or the opportunity to be patient?". It's quite the quote in a secular movie. I love this movie and all the amazing work God did shining through to whoever watched it. (This movie actually hilights God's sense of humor and His plenty often use of irony. Look through the Bible, it's all there. So much irony. He's great. God invented sarcasm. Man, he's got the best blog ever! It's called THE BIBLE!
Anyway, that quote, I think it's true. God does give us those opportunities, but He also gives us the gifts we need to face those challenges. If we never had those challenges we wouldn't have the opportunity to exercise the growing gifts God had given to us and continues to give to us. It's pretty cool!
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