” I used to pray that God give me patience however, these days I pray that I be taught patience!” With (5) kids (4) living at home, the oldest a teenager (15) that is always right and know’s everything, LIFE is definately CHALLENGING. The more I pray, the more I listen, the more I’m taught. Not only through scripture, but through actions, through the pator’s (Mark Hartman) teachings. There are many days that I have to just seek “GOD” and walk away. I am also really bad about asking for something to be done and if it’s not being done timely, I then loose all patience. Therefore this CHALLENGE is teaching me through scripture that I have to wait and that is the hardest answer for me. However, I will continue to challenge myself through the HELP of prayers and the teachings.
Sunday afternoon, our boys were playing a Wii game together. Being BROTHERS, this can sometimes get competitive and ugly. It was beginning to head that way when our youngest stopped, breathed in quickly and covered his mouth (as if something was wrong). He then muttered, “Oh man!!! I forgot my Bible verse said that love is patient and kind!”
LOVE IT!! 
I was in a retail store 2 weeks ago on my lunch hour and, of course, in a hurry. However, the lady in front of me was having a hard time doing a return with a new sales lady. She kept looking back at me apologetically and I smiled encouragingly. I finally had an opportunity to get a little closer to her and say, “It’s okay, your time is just as important as mine and anyone else’s standing in line. She seemed so relieved at my comment and I thanked God I was the person waiting in line.
Last week we started The Love Challenge as a family and we decided to engage our 6 and 4 yr old boys by playing the “That’s Love” game. We challenged them to be loving to one another, to us and everyone they connect with. When one of them catches someone doing something loving they are to say out loud “THAT’S LOVE”, so they will know love when they see it. So, day one goes fairly well because it is fresh in our minds, but by the end of the week we are slacking off. By the Tuesday, I am thinking we are ALL going to need another refresher on the rules of the game but I was pleasantly surprised by my 4 year old, Jaden on our way to a special family night out. Big Brother Cameron wanted to be unbuckled from his car seat “first”, and Jaden said “O.K.” You can go first”. I recognized his genuinely selfless attitude, and commended him saying “That was awesome Jaden, you are being so kind to let your brother go first”. To which he beamed a smile and said ” I’m choosing to be patient, because That’s Love!” I am amazed that they really understand that in this game everyone wins… even when you choose to be last.
