Patience is one thing that as human, we all struggles with, some more than others, but we all struggle. I am the first person to say I struggle with patience. I can't wait to be out of school, moved out of my parents house, and be is a solid relationship. Even though I think I'm ready for it, God knows there is no way I am. I still have so much to learn.
Two years after I graduated high school I learned that my friends sister who was 17 at the time was to be married that summer. She would be married 3 weeks after her 18th birthday. My heart broke for her. Now knowing her very well, I've seen the struggles in a marriage and I wouldn't put that upon anyone. Sure enough they are married now and are both still in college. What if young couples were to have more patience? I'm not saying that marrying young is a bad thing. I know many couples who were married young that are very happy 10, 20, 30 years later. It just makes someone like me wonder when they have only dated someone 8-9 months and they are married two months later.
One of my friends told me another situation. She was in a relationship with a guy and the relationship ended on rocky terms. However even though they are broken up, she continues to hang out with him. Why is it that girls/guys do this? I did this when I was in my first relationship too. I know exactly why I did it too, I wanted attention. He was willing to hang out with me and vise versa. It wasn't until eight months after we broke up that I realized we just were not meant to be together. Sometimes it just takes time, other times it just takes maturity and patience.
When I was 17, my heart got broken for the first time. Even though I was still a teenager, it hurt. I cried myself to sleep a couple nights. The guy told me in a text message that he was basically going to start seeing his old girlfriend again. I felt like I wasn't good enough. If only we had gone on one more date. If only I had... and I took the blame for the relationship ending. Looking back on this situation, I am thankful I experienced this at a young age. The guy and I are still very good friends and I thank God for that because the guy is an extremely amazing example of a Christian. We had to work through our differences and be patient with each other but we managed to save our friendship and I am beyond thankful.
My senior year in high school a boy moved to my school from a neighboring town. Girls fell head over heals for this basketball player. A couple months into the school year my best friend started dating him. I was so excited for her. He went to church and built a solid friendship with me, so he quickly won my trust. However towards the end of the school year, I witnessed and learned disappointing things about him. While trying to drop hints to her that he isn't who he appeared to be, he called me out in front a bunch of people. For the first time I stood up for myself and my best friend. I didn't want her to get hurt and if that meant putting my friendship on hold with her to have her realize that the life he is living isn't ok, I was going to do whatever it took. After months and months of praying for her, she came to realize that they were not meant to be. Today her and I are the best of friends and I know someday we will look back and thank each other for the lessons we have taught each other.
Without life experience it is hard to be patient. We have to learn from our mistakes. We have to realize that everyone's situation is different than ours but there is no reason to remind each other that it is ok to be patient. There is no harm in praying for each other or with each other. We just have to remember that sometimes we have to let others make mistakes and learn the lesson for themselves. I highly encourage anyone who is struggling with patience, whether you are in a relationship or not, to look at 1 Corinthians 13. It is the chapter in the Bible that focuses on love. The beginning starts by saying if you don't love, you are nothing. Later on in the chapter it clearly says that love is patient. When you are ready, God will put your soul mate in your life. Don't rush to meet your soul mate. Be patient.
A Persian poet once wrote, "Have patience. All things are difficult before they become easy." Maybe the difficult part for you is starting over in a relationship or ending the relationship you are in because you know it's not where God wants you or maybe it being patient with a friend who is in a rough relationship. Be patient, your time is coming.
No comments:
Post a Comment