Monday, June 14, 2010

Patience is a Virtue - So Get Rid of Those Pet Peeves!


Being a big sister, there are some things you just *have* to chillax about.

Take people running through the kitchen after you've mopped the floor, for instance. That used to seriously get me. Anyone who walked through the kitchen as much as twenty minutes after I had mopped was just too inconsiderate. Didn't they care that I had just spent all that time cleaning all their dirt marks off the floor? Well, anyway, now I've realize that the kitchen floor is there to be walked on, whether it's clean or not. But if you walk through before I'm even done mopping...well, then you'd better watch out.

Another pet peeve of mine used to be finding a bunch of bath toys all piled up at the tub drain when I went to go take my shower. It probably took me an entire five minutes to sit there and hold each candy-colored speed boat upside down to dry, and squeeze all the water out of every single rubber duck, spitting frog and kissy fish. An entire FIVE MINUTES! What are these children thinking? I only have one hour before bed to shower, give myself an organic avacado face mask and put my hair in curlers... and that's pushing it. *Sigh* Now I've learned to pre-make my face mask and lay out my curlers ahead of time, so that I can fit De-Youthing the Tub into my nightly routine. I can't afford an extra five minutes; eight hours of sleep are a girl's best friend!
So I guess you're getting the picture of what we older sisters go through. If you have young siblings, I'm sure you deal with things like this every day! Or even if you have siblings that aren't super young, life can be just as crazy. Either way, it's not always easy to keep a smile on when you have so much insanity going on in the house (toys in the bathtub? Oh my!) But then again, life in general is pretty insane. God probably knows what He's doing... preperation for some future truly hectic time in our lives.

I find it encouraging to know that He will never tempt us with more than we can handle (1 Cor. 10:13). Sometimes I wonder if maybe God thinks a little too highly of me at times, but as you can see I haven't let the bumps get to me yet. Getting rid of my seemingly insignificant, but well-able-to-add-up pet peeves is one of the ways I'm trying to keep it as easy as possible on my part to stay patient.

You know, I seem to be especially weak in this area. Sometimes I can get to the point where the dirty car and the unswept porch just drive me up the wall! I've realized now, though, that caring about every. little. insignificant. thing. is just too much for me to deal with at this point in life. I need to focus on the truly important things in life before I start worrying about immaculate floors and Better Homes and Gardens bathtubs. But maybe you're different. You got this patience thing down in a snap. Well then, I give me some advice, lady! I need some tips! :-)

You know though, achievements get easier to grasp the more you perservere, so maybe I am starting to get the hang of it. ...Waaait a minute. While I was making last night's dinner things did get a little out of control...

After I had stood at the kitchen counter and put some Fiesta Dinner on plates, I turned and started putting whipped cream and strawberries on our Very American Dessert. Over my shoulder I asked two year old Sweetie Pie to put forks on the table (one for each chair, please) and quickly finished my crowning glory. A few seconds later I turned and saw her at the table, picking the cilantro, tomatoes and onions out of her burrito... fork faithfully in hand.

Patience dear sisters, patience.











19 comments:

Katherine said...

Goodness gracious so so true! Thanks for sharing!

Blessings,
katherine

LocaChica said...

Oooh my! That was convicting!
With 10 siblings(9 of them younger, 7 of them boys under the age of 9) sometimes it's really easy for me to be impatient. Although it's a good opportunity for me to develope consistant patience :)
LocaChica

Rosanna said...

Oh yes, I have had SO many pet peeves that I have had to let go of. there are still things I have to learn to chillax about:) Thank you so much for that post!!!
<3 Rose

ashley tahg said...

I agree with Kathrine!
I'm not one with very good patience...But I try and ask God to help me as I go my way.

Rachel said...

Excellent post!

Sisters of Grace said...

Wow! Thanks for the great post. I'm afraid I need this reminder all too often:(

Blessings
Emily~

Anna said...

Seren, I'm so glad you blogged about this, I was very convicted, patience is a point I really need to work on!
Thank you so much for all the encouragement you give on your blog and in your letters!

Anonymous said...

excellent post!!!

Anonymous said...

Thanks Miss Serenity, my husband and I am living with my father and my two younger brothers, and with a infant of my own. It can be very stressful. this was inspirational. I get so frustrated being the only woman and the only housekeeper, and certain things can get to me when I feel like no one apprtiates my cleaning! Let me also say how great it is to have a young girl in this world who isnt influenced by this world! Thanks!

Anonymous said...

NOOOOOOOOOOOOO five minutes! EEEK!!

Great post, Serenity!

Lexie said...

As a sibling of 11 (7 little ones at home right now) I find myself getting frustrated sometimes but than I keep in mind a lot of my friends have siblings who they aren't close to. So when my siblings do things that are sometimes over the top or annoy me I realize they are doing it out of fun to get my attention. So I'm learning to be more patient and spend more time with them to bond. It's good to see your back blogging and I have recently been called by god to take up messianic Christianity which is exciting to me as I learn so I will be visiting your blog to learn more.

Miss Serenity said...

Thanks ladies. Yes, the frustration level can get pretty high when young siblings are involved. I think the only wayto stay sain through it all is to have some sense of humor!

Serenity

Anonymous said...

Thank you for your post! I wanted to let you know it was included in the July Issue of the Bosom Friends column: http://feelinfeminine.com/?p=5393

Please share the link!

Shalom,
MJ

Teena in Toronto said...

I'm a big sister and I've learned to have patients with my sister ... she's definitely a last born.

Happy blogoversary :)

Dallas H. said...

Seren, love it!

Laura said...

Hey Serenity,
You haven't posted in ages! I'm missing your wise words. (: Type something on your blog soon, yeah? It's nice to hear what happening with you all the way in America. Hope to hear from you soon!

SATYA LAKSHMI said...

The way of your presentation of blog is so nice. please keep blogging

ashley tahg said...

Miss Serenity, Where art thou?

Yo haven't posted in AGES. Well, 10 months, not ages...but...yeah.

I love hearing about your family!

hannahrose_8 said...

Hey, Miss Serenity. You hit the nail on the head with this section:

"Either way, it's not always easy to keep a smile on when you have so much insanity going on in the house (toys in the bathtub? Oh my!) But then again, life in general is pretty insane. God probably knows what He's doing... preperation for some future truly hectic time in our lives. "

The things we think are crazy in our day to day lives are cake walks compared to the big trials that await us. We best remember that, or when the big problem hit, we'll feel as though the rug has been ripped out from beneath us. I know- I did. Looking back, I've come to identify times of preparation for the problems that truly require the patience and faith to walk on water.

Anyway, I love your blog and am impressed by your wisdom and writing. Great job. :)

Jen