Patience - 3/7/2006

I have no patience on my own. Growing up I didn't have patience. As a young adult I didn't have patience. Even now I don't have patience. I've always wanted immediate feedback or results. I expect things to be the way I think they should be and don't always come to terms with the fact that the way I think things should be doesn't always line up with the way things actually are. This is where God comes in.

As I mentioned a paragraph ago, I have no patience on my own. This doesn't mean I don't have any patience in my life, however, because I know God is working in me and has granted me more patience over time. It's not from my own will or power but from Him. If He was not working in me and granting me the patience I need, I can't say with any certainty that I would still be married to my wife or that I'd be anywhere near the situations I'm in right now.

This morning I lost my patience with my 14-year-old daughter. Her behavior was very rude, immature, and disrespectful. This has actually been the norm for some time, and I've been trying to turn the matter over to God for help. This morning, though, I blew. I'd had a lot building up in me for a while, and I just couldn't hold it in. I didn't hit her or say anything I regret...I simply let my volume rise and shouted how I felt. If I had taken the matter to God instead of trying to handle it myself I might have been able to discuss it with her in a better way instead of yelling. I thank God that He helped me recognize that I could have handled it better, and I was able to repent. It also showed me that I still have a long way to go to be what He really wants me to be.

The best thing is that He loves me anyway, even when I'm being a bear. He won't give up on me, and if I allow him to work in me I'll end up being more like Him.

Thank you, Lord, for your patience with me. Please grant me more so I can share it with others.

Good night.

Thoughts from 3/1/2006

I don't have a whole lot on my mind tonight.

The kitchen sink is winning the battle. 2 bottles of Liquid Plumber/Drano later, and it's still stopped up. The residue that has come up in to the sink indicates there must be a sizable amount of grease down there. I may have to enlist a snake.

My son had a headache after school. He spent most of the time curled up in my chair with a blanket over him. He went to bed early, and for him that's pretty unusual. I'm praying for his headache to go away tonight so he'll be well rested and ready for tomorrow.

That's pretty much it. Good night.

Thoughts from 2/28/2006

My brother's birthday is today. He's meant a lot to me my whole life. As a boy I looked up to him. As a young man I wanted to be like him. Now he's one of the people closest to me, and I really enjoy the time I get to spend with him. I'm really blessed to have him for a brother. Happy birthday, David!

Today was a better day. My wife & I had a nice evening out together. That's important to our marriage. We need more of that.

The sink is still stopped up. More boiling water & Liquid Plumber hasn't done the trick. Not sure what to do next.

After reading more Spring Training reports about the Rangers, I really am pumped about the 2006 season. April 3 seems an eternity away.

How can there possibly be that much laundry when there are only 4 of us in this house???

That's pretty much it for today. Good night.

First Thoughts - 2/27/2006

I'm trying to do a few things online this evening (pay the mortgage bill, transfer funds, start this blog, chat with people...), and our dial-up is ridiculously slow. It says we have a 49kbps speed right now, and usually we're happy with that. At the moment I think it's lying. There's no way this is running at 49kbps. It's got to be better than this tomorrow.

My brother got tickets today for us to get to Opening Day at the Ballpark (I refuse to call it Ameriquest Field). Rangers vs Red Sox. Probably Millwood vs Schilling. I can smell the hot dogs already!

I gave blood today. My 61st pint. I hope there are plenty more in me to give over the years.

The sink in the kitchen is backed up. I took the U-joint (is that what it's called?) off, and I didn't see any problem there. I've dumped a fair amount of Liquid Plumber in there and chased it 15 minutes later with boiling water. We'll see how that goes in the morning.

Anyway, it's late, and I need to get some rest. I just saw the Blogger on Google and thought I'd see what it is. Maybe I'll be back to write more...maybe not. I have no idea.

Good night.