Love is Patient.

 

Have you had one of those days (or weeks . . . or months ) where you just felt all over kind of grouchy?

 

I've been having that day too.

 

(or maybe that week.)

 

(Or. possibly? that very month.)

 

(Thank goodness it's only February 8th so I still have time to shape up.) 🙂 

 

I've been mad at my kids.

 

Mad at my husband.

 

Mad at my dog.

 

(Not gonna lie ~ it really might just be the dog's fault. ahem.) 

 

Not for big things, but for little things. 

 

Things like too much laundry.

 

Too many dishes.

 

Too much organizing.

 

Too much picking up.

 

Too much coordinating.

 

Too.

 

much.

 

to.

 

do.

 

But God has a funny way of stopping you in your tracks, doesn't He?

 

Yesterday my littlest got sick.

 

(I know she's ten, but she's still totally my baby.)

 

(And with two teenagers around this place, she really is still the happy in the house.)

 

All of a sudden, I had no choice but to stop.

 

To sit on the couch.

 

To get her more ice water. Pour another glass of Sprite. Hunt down one more popsicle from the bottom of the freezer. Dole out one more dose of medicine.

 

After 48 hours of TLC, this morning I had 78 minutes to head to the gym, and while I was on the elliptical I listened to this after quite possibly being the grouchiest momma you've ever seen.

 

(If you're not already, you need to listen to this podcast. Please, take time to fold some laundry through just one today just for me, okay? Start with Becoming a Soul Minimalist at the bottom of the list. You'll be glad. I promise.) 

 

While there was so much to unpack in her podcast, it was the words I've heard my whole life that hit deep.

 

^“Love is patient, 

 

love is kind.

 

It does not envy,

 

it does not boast,

 

it is not proud. 

 

It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 

 

Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 

 

It always protects,

 

always trusts,

 

always hopes,

 

always perseveres. 

 

Love never fails.”

 

1 Corinthians 13:4-8

{OOCH.}

 

I can't imagine I'm the only momma out there who's tired today.

 

Who forgot to be patient.

 

Forgot to be kind.

 

Forgot to protect.

 

Forgot to keep no record of wrongs. 

 

Honestly?

 

I'm kinda sure that if you google searched the antonym to patience today, my picture might pop right up at the top of the list.

 

(At the very minimum, it would pop right up at the top of my family's list.)

 

(Yikes.)

 

But it's February 8th.

 

The month where despite the weather (and the colds, and the fevers, and the mommmmmm word whined for the eight-millionth time), we're supposed to show a little love.

 

hmph. 

 

So today, 

 

if you're like me,

 

and feeling a little unloving,

 

(and quite possibly a wee bit unloveable . . .)

 

take a deep breath. 

 

Remember these words (you can print them yourself here too),

 

and maybe encourage your bunch to soak them up this February too.

 

I can't believe you and I are alone in this one today.

 

I'm pretty sure we all have those days.

 

(or weeks.)

 

(or months.)

 

But maybe simply a timeless reminder is what we need right now. 

 

At least for me, I know it's what I needed today.

 

Whew. 

Today, let's you and I choose instead to live patiently, love kindly, and be mindful that real love protects, trusts, hopes and truly does perservere. 

{And, for my bunch, I'm going to go back and keep things simple, find some plain yellow post it notes, and remind them (and myself!) of just what I love about them today.) I really am so thankful for them, just need a little mindset change today.}

Looking for more grace today? Here you go . . . 

• There's just something about grace.
• Scandalous Grace Cake
• Grace
• Where Do You Find Your Value
• The Ugly Green Eyed Monster And Why I'll Never Measure Up
• Charm Is Deceptive and Beauty Is Fleeting