Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. (Ephesians 6:4)
Today's chapter was all about showing your children love by your patience. "When you truly love someone, two key attributes will show up on a regular basis: patience and kindness. In fact, many other characteristics of love are based upon these two attributes. Patience is how love diffuses something negative; kindness is how love initiates something positive. One takes in a deep breath; the other breathes out life."
It's easy to be patient with someone you don't have to share the hard times with. This isn't really a challenge at all, but an opportunity to pray for his day to day interactions. In some ways it's not fair that I get all the easy parts of Jordan, I don't have to deal with the discipline or when he gets in trouble at school or how to manage his medication. I often forget how important it is to pray for my parents. I thank God often for them, but I rarely pray for them. They would never approach their situation as burdensome, but I know they do face their challenges with him, just as any parent raising an *almost teenager does. So today was an opportunity to pray for Jordan and my parents as well as his teachers and others he interacts with.
Lord, I pray that all of Jordan's interactions today will be done with patience. I pray for my mom and dad, that they can model how love is patient for Jordan. I pray for his teachers, that with the struggles Jordan has in class, they will be patient with him. I pray that Jordan will be patient also, that he will learn what that means by Your word and grow in love this way. In Jesus' name.
"The more patient you are today, the more victories you can celebrate tomorrow."
The farmer waits for the precious produce of the soil, being patient. - James 5:7
an older picture of Jordan on his chopper bike at the park. Fun day - patience needed.
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