Go ahead...make their day...

He only wanted three smoothies.  With a daughter and wife ill this weekend, my husband drove to town to get something that sounded tasty and tolerable for our weak bodies.  He ordered in the drive-thru and was asked to wait in a parking area for special orders.  There seemed to be a shortage of ingredients at the restaurant but they planned to have the problem resolved soon.  Fifteen minutes later, no one had delivered the smoothies to his vehicle.  So he patiently, yet purposefully, walked inside and asked about his order.  Much to his disappointment, the smoothies were neither made...nor available.  The cashier refunded his money and an optional order was placed.  

As my husband later watched an action movie, I couldn't help but recognize the difference in his approach with the prolonged wait for smoothies...and the lack of patience shown in the action movie.  Yet I also thought about this on another level.

Patience is something I usually handle well...unless it's a traffic jam...or rude behavior.  Then it's a definite challenge.  Yet before I allow my long fuse of patience to wear out, I need to realize a major truth.  God has been...and continues to be...very patient with me...much more than I deserve.  He knows I have fallen short of much more than three smoothies.  He has waited much longer than fifteen minutes for me to learn important lessons.  He has not destroyed me when I fail.  He hasn't called me degrading names when I make a mistake.  He loves me...forgives me...and restores me...repeatedly.

May the amazing love, grace and mercy He extends to me...be shown and shared with others on this journey. Making someone's day...is much more effective when reflecting Him than reacting impatiently.<3~thl