• Home
  • About
    • Telling THE Story
  • Speaking
    • Take Away & Content
    • Reviews and News
    • Audio
    • Video
    • Fun Footage
  • Writing
    • Ginger’s Book
    • Blog
  • Contact

Ginger Ciminello

  • Home
  • About
    • Telling THE Story
  • Speaking
    • Take Away & Content
    • Reviews and News
    • Audio
    • Video
    • Fun Footage
  • Writing
    • Ginger’s Book
    • Blog
  • Contact

Dear Patience: Hurry Up.

April 13, 2011 Posted by Ginger Ciminello Uncategorized

I am not (unfortunately) a person known for patience.  I spend my days working from home and I am quick to leap to impatience and irritation at everything from a slow computer to food that doesn’t heat quickly enough in the microwave.  Statistics from somewhere (if I looked them up) would tell me that our attention spans are shrinking and that we are a generation who wants everything NOW.

Question: Do I blame my impatience on the state of present culture?

I have grown up with computers and cell phones, television and microwaves.  Is patience really a virtue we should desire?

I’m going to go with a YES on that one.

 

Yesterday we started discussing a great question by TC.  She asked, “How can we actively apply and exhibit the fruit of patience in our lives?”

Patience is one of nine traits listed in the Fruit of the Spirit.  Plant yourself, connect yourself, abide with Jesus and the Bible says that the fruit produced will be these nine eye-catching things.  (Don’t you notice when someone oozes kindness or patience?)

But what happens if you feel like one or some of these fruits aren’t defining character traits for you?  Is this yet another time to throw up your hands and shift the blame elsewhere?

I don’t think so.

We were born with personality traits.  I’m fairly outgoing but my husband tends to be more of an introvert.  He can speak to a whole room of people if needed, but he won’t enjoy it as much as I will.  The Fruit of the Spirit described in Galatians 5:22-23 aren’t personality traits.  They are different aspects of godly character– and character is something that can be developed and grown.  I don’t get to blame impatience on my personality, even though I certainly might like to!

You see, usually impatience comes because I have unmet expectations.  (We’ve talked about these before!)  We had a plan for the day and it didn’t involve the printer jamming, our friend making us late, or the driver in front of us going 15 under the speed limit.  It’s all about control and it is all about ME.  Notice that none of the Fruit of the Spirit have to do with self-promotion.  That’s just it… it’s not about ME.

Step #1 to cultivating fruit: Recognize that it’s not about me because it’s all about Him.

Check out 2nd Corinthians 5:17: “If anyone belongs to Christ, there is a new creation. The old things have gone; everything is made new!”

This passage talks about a definite change in our lives.  When we recognize that we can’t hold it together, that we’ve made mistakes (yes, sinned), and that we need a rescuer… that’s when Jesus steps in to make us new.  Notice it doesn’t say that we receive perfection in that moment.  You and I are a work in progress for our entire lives.  Remember that God is FOR us.  He’s not waiting for us to mess up, He is coming along-side us right where we are!

I recognize that sometimes impatience isn’t associated with irritability.  Sometimes our impatience looks more like anxiety and worry.  That’s still a problem because it’s basically saying that we distrust God and what He has for us.  (A great friend of mine just posted about this very aspect of patience.)  God is head over heels crazy about us and (thankfully) He is in control.  His timing is for His people.

Step #2 to cultivating fruit: Strengthen your muscles.

While there is no growth or change happening without the Lord, gaining strength in this area requires exercise.  I take the time to strengthen my arms with weights, and my spiritual life isn’t any different.  I have to daily notate where I am living selfishly and not producing good fruit.  Thankfully God seems to be totally aware of my blind spots and seems more than happy to keep giving me situations in which to recognize the lacking fruit.  “I have the slow cashier again?!” Maybe that’s an opportunity to meet the cashier and show kindness… and in doing so you utilize vast amounts of patient strength you didn’t know you had!  Growth is going to take some strength training, so don’t get frustrated if you feel like a lightweight when it comes to patience.  The time devoted will pay off.

Cultivating good fruit in our lives is a process that will take a lifetime.   I will not arrive at a point where I am never impatient, but perhaps one day I will be thought of as a patient woman.

Oh would that day come sooner! 😉

Following,
Ginger

P.S. Come back tomorrow for more helpful hints on cultivating good fruit!  Be blessed!

Tags: Fruit of the Spiritpatience
Share
0

About Ginger Ciminello

Ginger is a work-from-home mom of two girls, the wife of a good man, as well as a speaker and writer. Her book, Forget the Corsage, was written to mentor the young women she’s met in auditoriums around the country. She has a deep desire to connect with women of all ages and encourage them to laugh, learn from her many mistakes, and connect with the Lord through a rich study of Scripture.

You also might be interested in

Love is PATIENT
Mother and Child

Love is PATIENT

Nov 30, 2011

[1 Corinthians 13:1-4] “If I speak in the tongues of men[...]

Trust is a verb

Feb 9, 2015

My ministry and business partner, Carey, responded quickly and specifically[...]

A New Prayer

Jul 26, 2013

I’ve struggled with having a consistent prayer life for as[...]

Recent Posts

  • I’ve Got Nothing.
  • Freedom to Rest this Christmas
  • Shine, Poet!
  • All the Things 2015
  • My Anniversary Gift for Year Five: Marriage Counseling

Recent Comments

  • Ginger Ciminello on I’ve Got Nothing.
  • Ginger Ciminello on I’ve Got Nothing.
  • Victoria on I’ve Got Nothing.
  • Annie Parsons on I’ve Got Nothing.
  • Shanna on Shine, Poet!

Archives

  • May 2019
  • December 2017
  • November 2016
  • January 2016
  • October 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • October 2014
  • July 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • December 2013
  • November 2013
  • October 2013
  • September 2013
  • August 2013
  • July 2013
  • June 2013
  • May 2013
  • April 2013
  • March 2013
  • February 2013
  • January 2013
  • December 2012
  • November 2012
  • October 2012
  • September 2012
  • August 2012
  • July 2012
  • June 2012
  • May 2012
  • April 2012
  • March 2012
  • February 2012
  • January 2012
  • December 2011
  • November 2011
  • October 2011
  • September 2011
  • August 2011
  • July 2011
  • June 2011
  • May 2011
  • April 2011
  • March 2011

Categories

  • Advent
  • Forget The Corsage
  • Friday Finds
  • Hindsight
  • Identity
  • Lent
  • Life Lessons
  • Living His Story
  • Marriage
  • Missions
  • Purpose
  • Questions
  • Random
  • Recommendations
  • Relationships
  • Seasons
  • Speaking
  • Spiritual Growth
  • Thursday Tips
  • Uncategorized
  • Whatever Girls
  • With Joy Retreats
  • Writing

Meta

  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.org

Contact Us

We're currently offline. Send us an email and we'll get back to you, asap.

Send Message
Prev Next