It has been the first few days of Lent and I’ve already messed up. For this Lenten season I decided to do something slightly different. I decided I was going to be more patient with my kids and keep my voice down when speaking with them…… BUT as I mentioned before, I already messed up!
My kids go to school about 7 minutes away…not too far, but far enough, and to get them up and ready to go can definitely be a difficult task. They wake up groggy and want 5 more minutes and they dilly dally…. typical boys! Hahaha I really want to have a nice and easy morning with them, but it has been hard especially when they fight over very silly things. This morning was a better morning than yesterday, but I always feel so rushed.
Every time I start to feel the anxious feelings of being late, I ask God to grant me patience, but now reflecting on this, I see that God is granting me more opportunities to practice the virtue of patience and love. I pray a hail Mary to ask for Mother Mary’s intercession to allow me to be changed by her prayers. I realize that with the grace that God has given me, I am called to exercise a lot of patience.
I have apologized to my kids for raising my voice at them, and they were very kind to forgive me. I understand now how my mom felt when I was growing up. She used to come into my room and wake me up, and I would raise “the finger” (pointer finger) indicating that I wanted one more minute. She used to get so mad… and now I understand what it must have been like for her. She must have lost her patience more than I recall. In those times when my kids are testing my patience, I will remember that God is allowing me to have opportunities to practice the virtue of patience!
Please God give me the grace to practice patience!
Sincerely, you disheveled daughter,
Jeanette
TOBCatholicMom 