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Written by Christian Cowgirl
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Before becoming a Christian I had very little patience with myself. My self-worth was wrapped up in my performance. My expectation was that I should be able to do everything well, even when it was something I had never tried before. I happened to be very good at a lot of things – academics in school, art, and many sports, but there is always going to be someone better than you or something that you just can’t do, so I was often frustrated with myself.
When I became a Christian, at age 27, I learned that my worth is based on being a child of God, not on how well I performed. I prayed that God would give me patience. I guess I assumed it would arrive in a package with a bow on top or something, but that is not how God works.
Patience is not something God gives you, it’s something He develops in you, over time, as He takes you through difficult or frustrating situations. Over the years God gave me three daughters and led me to homeschool them. Not that children are a “trial” in a negative sense, but they do require a lot of patience. I’m happy to say that all three of my daughters are past the point where I have to help them with their math!
 After 15 years of homeschooling I felt like I had become a pretty patient person, achieving the equivalent of a Bachelor’s degree in patience. Then this past summer I bought a mule, a spoiled mule that was quite used to getting her own way. Maybe God looked down on me and thought I was becoming a little smug about my level of patience.
I’m looking forward to working with my mule, Sassy, and realize that I have not quite arrived when it comes to patience. Perhaps Sassy will take me on to the Master’s level. Right now I’m studying mule training videos from Steve Edwards the “John Lyons of the mule world.” Steve is also a Christian. You can read his testimony here and visit his website muleranch.com.
James reminds us that it is through trials and the development of patience that we are made mature and complete. I hope that you also are growing in patience each day with your equines, family members, friends, and acquaintances.
James 1:2-5 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
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Last Updated on Sunday, 10 January 2010 21:11 |
