Love is Patient

Fathers do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up 

int the discipline and instruction of the Lord (Ephesians 6:4)

This might be the main reason I felt led to start this journey.  I feel like I fly off the handle at my offspring too often.  I think it goes back to my first post where I don't expect my kids to be perfect but I sure have an unreasonably high expectation of them.  Don't misunderstand, I will always have a high expectation of my kids to do the right thing and treat others with kindness and respect.  Especially since it seems like the world doesn't expect those qualities out of kids these days.  But I need to balance that with the knowledge that my girls are 10 and 7 respectively.  

Patience is how love diffuses something negative.  Have your kids ever done anything negative?  Of course, and you are probably only thinking of this morning when they were getting ready for school.  My kids have the amazing ability to test the level of my patience with their tone, disobedience, irresponsibility, and at times lack of respect.  Sometimes in those moments I say or do something I am mad at myself for later.  These are the times I know I need to pause and not react emotionally.  The better parent in me waits until my brain has processed the incident and then make a logical parenting decision.  

This is what is so amazing about God's patience.  The bible says He is "compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in loving kindness" (Exodus 34:6).  If my kids were able to say those words about my parenting style I would feel like a champion! God lets his overflowing love control his anger.  Notice I did not say to not be angry.  The bible says, "Be angry, and yet do not sin" (Ephesians 4:26).  Sometimes anger is appropriate but I must choose to not let it control my emotions and actions.

I have spent the last week really focusing on this attribute as a parent.  I can tell you it is like many things in life in that the more you do it the easier it becomes.  That said, I really did not shine on one particular day.  But tomorrow is a new day and I purposed in my heart I would change.  Through the week I found time with my girls much more enjoyable.  A reasonable expectation and a long fuse made for some rather good daddy/daughter times.  And I found I noticed some more simple pleasures like just the smiles my girls have.  It's tough to see the simple things when you lose focus.

Obviously this is not a one day, or one week thing.  I want this to continue through the rest of my time with my girls.  So if you see me, I give you permission to ask me how long my fuse has been lately.  I promise not to blow up at you.