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| March 22, 2010 | ||||||
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Patience, Young Padawan Since Gabriel has the desire to become a Jedi Knight, we often pretend to part of the Jedi world. Sonny quite often is a Jedi master, while Gabriel is his padawan. (I, of course, become Queen Amidala or Princess Leia, whichever fits for that moment.) Because of this playacting, the phrase, "Patience, Young Padawan" is often used as Sonny (Jedi master) talks to Gabriel (Padawan). It is a good reminder for all of us to practice patience in our family. So often, we have no trouble being patient with everyone else in the world, but when it comes to our own family it's a constant struggle. Here is a quote that caught my eye one day while reading an article online. "Patience is another lesson in learning to live happily together at home. The children of a family have not all the same tastes. It is very easy to fall into the habit of criticizing each other. We know how nearly Martha spoiled her home happiness, and her sister's also, by criticism. Criticism never fosters affection; you never loved any one better for criticizing you. Usually the best service we can do to a brother or sister is to live a sweet, patient, beautiful, Christly life ourselves, leaving to God the fashioning of their lives. If they are true Christians, He is teaching them and putting His own image on their souls. We might mar this divine work by our criticism. "Suppose you went into an artist's studio and saw a picture at which he had been working for months, yet unfinished; would you, not being an artist, take up his brush and begin to put touches here and there on the canvas? Each life of husband or wife, child, brother or sister, in your home is a picture which God is painting, and which is yet unfinished. Beware that you mar not His work! So let us be patient with one another at home. We all have our faults, we all make mistakes - but we can help each other more by loving patience, than by scathing criticism." -- from "Secrets of Happy Home Life" by J.R. Miller (1894) (Notice the year this was written. I guess they also had trouble with patience and criticism back then. Glad I'm not the only one.) What did you gain from the remarks of J.R. Miller? I took from it that criticism is to be avoided and replaced with patience. When we see something in the life of a family member (or friend) that we don't like, we shouldn't criticize because it does no good and could cause them to withdraw from us or, more importantly, God. Our response should be one of love and patience. It should be one of prayer and fasting. Maybe that's why the Bible refers to patience and love instead of criticism and harshness over and over again. As a parent, does this mean we should never discipline our children? Of course not. We are given the answer to that question in the Bible too. It does mean that God doesn't need us to be critical of our children by putting them down when they make mistakes or bad decisions. We also should not be critical of our spouse (or other people). Being kind with our words and loving in our manner goes much further than a critical tone or negative attitude. I know in my own life, I need to make a habit out of letting God do His job while I gently, lovingly guide my children and help my husband. It's not about being perfect or being the best. It's about being a family and helping one another grow! It's about patience, young padawan. May the Force (that is, God) be with you! |
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Sonny
Childs P.O. Box 131 Paragould, AR 72451 |
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