Needed: A Lesson In Patience

Posted: September 8, 2011 at 7:00 am

Before we go any further, I have to say that you all crack me up! Here I go taking the time to write a thoughtful post on blogging numbers and then you all get riled up on my post about sports bras! This is why I love blogging as I do. I can write whatever my little heart desires so we have some fun…and still think a little too. Hint Hint: You just wait for the fun that’s coming your way around lunch time today. It’s a goody!

Last night we had another Grow Group session at church. Grow Group is basically a small group of twelve of us that meet together on a regular basis to share a meal and then dive into some discussion on our recent sermons to hopefully dig a little deeper and grow a little more in our faiths. It’s a fun time and does that thing of building relationships which you all know I love so much.

My friend Danielle who acts as the host of our group ran with the idea of a themed salad bar for last night’s dinner. This week’s theme = Santa Fe salads!!

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Everyone contributed a couple different ingredients to help put together a great selection for a build your own Santa Fe salad. You know I chipped in some avocado and pineapple. Mmmm mmm mmm. It just wouldn’t be right without them getting invited to the party.

And a party it was with all the fabulous flavors.

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Mixed greens, creamy avocado chunks, tomato, pineapple, corn, some cheddar cheese (still obsessed), and some red beans for protein. I used two heaping scoops of salsa as my dressing – one scoop of fresh black bean and corn salsa and one scoop of an artichoke garlic salsa. Mmmmm mmmmm. I lurve a good salad!

After getting food in our bellies, we finally got to the more in-depth discussion part of the night. You know we were talking up a storm while eating too, but part of the night is learning and growing with each other.

We’re studying the fruits of the spirit right now in our worship services and this week focused on patience. You know I don’t like getting all preachy up in here, but I think this topic is one we can ALL relate to so I figured why not touch on it a bit? Winking smile

A few things stuck out to me in our convos that really hold such truth:

  • We spend so much time hurrying from one part of life to the next that we can end up not fully living and allowing life to pass us by…missing the chance to notice our blessings and do the #1 thing we’re meant to do – LOVE!
  • You have to practice patience! You can’t just expect to have it one day. You have to actively pay attention to what sets you off and then choose patience. Over and over again until it becomes more natural. <-- Have a feeling that is easier said than done!
  • Have an attitude of understanding. A lot of our impatience comes from selfish desires. If we try to understand where someone else in the situation is coming from, we may gain an attitude of grace and more patience. Lord knows I have to practice that every time I’m around my father. He can get my teeth grinding in less than 5 seconds if I don’t remember he is his own person with his own “unique” qualities.

And lastly…this quote really struck a chord with me:

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I have to be patient in so many goals I have for myself – being a good mother, making progress in my fitness, studying for personal training (Courtney – I know you relate!), and those goals I have for this little space on the ‘net. Hmmmm….I have a feeling God wants to teach me lessons in patience. He must know I need it! Winking smile 

  • What topping would you have to contribute to a Santa Fe or taco salad?
  • What situation/person gets your blood boiling, making it harder to be patient?

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46 Comments to “Needed: A Lesson In Patience”
  1. Oh my goodness – patience is the #1 thing I struggle with the most, especially at home. At work, I can be as pateint as can be, but the second I walk home, it’s really really hard. It’s true that you have to practice patience – if you don’t, you’ll never get better at how you react to a situation!

  2. khushboo says:

    Ohh snap- I had a Santa Fe for lunch with Greek Yogurt (“sour cream”) and salsa as dressing for the normal salad goods, kidney beans and avocado! I can’t get enough of Mexican food these days- 3rd meal this week !

  3. Love this post Tina. I got “stood up” by two clients yesterday and it was really frustrating. I know I have to have patience and understanding and I really tried my hardest. 🙂

  4. Patience is definetly sometimes I pray for everyday. I loved this post, I definetly would be pouring salsa on my santa fe salad! I could drink that stuff if you let me 🙂

  5. Melanie says:

    I NEEDED to read this this morning! Wow, I’m so happy you wrote about having patience because it’s something that I struggle with. Not in day-to-day things usually I have a high tolerance but with big life moments I feel like sometimes I can’t slow down and enjoy them because I am always anxious to take the next step. Especially lately, in my mid-20s I feel like I should be at a certain point in my life and sometimes it’s hard to realize that I’m not where I thought I should be – but I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be. This has made me realize that it’s so true, patience really does need to be practiced and looking at things the way the other person does can sometimes open our eyes. Thank you so much for posting this, my day just got a lot brighter 🙂
    Sorry for such a long comment but I read your blog all the time and I am usually not a commenter but today struck a chord 😉

    • Tina says:

      One of my friends once said to me that the mid to late 20s in when we get the most impatient with life because we want to KNOW we’re on the right paths, doing the right things, and feel right with the world. It makes such sense! I can relate to what you’re talking about here whole heartedly.

  6. That salad looks pretty perfect to me!

    I am very very impatient… it’s probably one of my worst traits. Sometimes I feel if I have to wait for something, it’s pointless to wait and just try something else. not good.

  7. i absolutely have to have guac on those salads…that plus a little salsa = no dressing for me!

    i feel like patience is something that God is having me practice in life right now…and always. i’m such a brat and want things NOW NOW NOW but it’s the patience that makes the entire journey worth it!

  8. My group studied the fruits of the Spirit last night too 🙂

    I think working in retail and then with children grew my patience and reliance on the Lord for it!

  9. Patience is skill that takes time to learn… I have to work on it everyday… Yesterday I arrived at the hotel to workout before my spa time and they refused to let me go up…so I sat in the lobby waiting for 20 minutes…needless to say I was NOT happy, but I had to remember to breathe, relax and remind myself that things like that shouldn’t make me so mad. I have a blessed life and all things will sort themselves out on their own…. Then had I had rocking awesome workout!

    xoxo from Trinidad

  10. Tina this is a great post! We all need a reminder on patience ever now & then. Lately I’ve been so focused on the future that I’ve forgotten to enjoy the now. Thank you!!

  11. I really need to get connected with a small group at my church. I love the things you post about your discussions – and food! 😉

    Patience is a funny thing. I can be patient and kind all day at work and then get home and snap at my husband right away. It seems so backwards. But when you realize that patience is a choice, it makes sense. I choose to be patient at work so I don’t drive my coworkers insane and lose my job. When I get home, I let my guard down and am my impatient self.

    I need some practice.

    • Tina says:

      Small groups have helped me the absolute most in my faith walks. The connections go so deep and I learn so much in that atmosphere. I HIGHLY recommend getting plugged in in that way. 🙂

  12. Amy Lauren says:

    Your salad looks delish! I would probably contribute black beans, I love them and they’re a great source of protein too.

    Plus that group sounds so awesome, it sounds like the church I used to be a part of, I do wish we had things like that around here to get involved in, but I haven’t really found them =/.

    As for the sports bras and numbers posts… well, I know I don’t blog for numbers or pay too much attention to that… but sports bras are something that affect probably all your readers (except the occasional male, haha). So I guess that explains why <3.

  13. Diane says:

    Patience indeed- I love that you note that it requires practice. A bible study I was reading (can’t remember the name) suggested things like purposely getting in the longest line at the grocery store (eep!) or driving in the slow lane (ack!). Tried it once or twice but it didn’t stick. Could probably stand to try it again- with patience comes the calmness where we can really hear God and His plan for us.

  14. Amy says:

    Tina – I have been a long time reader … and I had to “come out of the woodwork” today. LOVED this post. Patience has been perhaps my biggest struggle — in life & in faith. I love the way you cut to the chase and identified the major sticking points & ideas to work through them. Thank you so much for sharing this with us today <3

    • Tina says:

      Thanks for commenting, Amy! It was a great discussion and I was glad to share since I know its something that can resonate with many of us. 🙂

  15. Pinto beans and fresh salsa are my favorites on a taco salad! YUM!

    As for patients, I am really working on it. I have a tendency to get overwhelmed and that turns into frustration. My parents definitely get the best of me. I have had to work on just letting things go and not letting them get the best of me.

  16. Jess says:

    Practicing patience…now *that* is something I hadn’t really considered before. The practicing part. I have always struggled to keep and maintain patience and maybe it’s because I haven’t been practicing hard enough. Hmm! You’ve got me thinking over here Ms. Tina! (as usual!)

  17. Thanks for the reminder that you have to practice patience. I find it easy to be patient around people I don’t know well. But I often lose my patience with loved ones. I need to remember to step back and think before I speak. It’s always comforting to hear that others struggle with this too. And for the Santa fe salad… I definitely love your choices. I also love some good homemade poco de gallo

  18. Oh, I sure CAN relate! My gosh…I just want to fly right through all t he studying and just get started already! I just keep reminding myself…patience, patience, patience. 🙂

  19. Sante Fe Salads sound so good, I’d definitely bring some guacamole!

    As for patience, I definitely have my faults when I want something done but I’m trying to remember that sometimes I don’t need to be in such a rush.

    On a side note I just got back from a trip to Germany, and it is so hard to find a coffee “to go”. If we wanted coffee we had to take time to sit down and drink it…after a couple days I really began to appreciate the break to drink coffee instead of being on the run!

  20. My least patient time of day is the kids bedtime. I am usually tired from work and working out and I am just ready to have a minute to myself. My kids main mission is to STALL as long as possible and to whine about the horrible injustice of putting on pajamas and brushing their teeth. Heaven forbid that I suggest just one bedtime story instead of three! I am so on the edge of losing it some nights then I realize that God gave me kids to let me practice patience. You would think that I would be much better at it by now!

  21. Wow I LOVE the idea of a sante fe themed salad bar for a potluck. I think I’m going to do that myself soon!!!!

  22. Patience is such a huge factor in my life – and I struggle with it the most! I find waiting in lines…ahem..the line to get ice cream 😉 I am the most impatient. Christmas season – ugh, girl the parking drives me insane! lol

  23. I really appreciated this post this morning…I am 39 weeks pregnant today and honestly having a hard time being patient waiting for our first baby girl to arrive. I know the Lord is watching over us and she will come when He and she is ready, but man I am just so anxious! 🙂

  24. Oh boy..patience is a tough one for me. Big time. People being late really gets my blood boiling, that’s for sure. But I am learning to be better and realizing that I can use that time more effectively (waiting that is).

    As for the Sante Fe salad: salsa, black beans, mexi cheese, tortilla strips, jalapenos!

  25. I’m extremely loyal to my friends and family, so it gets my blood boiling if someone does something to hurt them. When it comes to me, I can handle myself, but it really upsets me to see other people hurt my loved ones. I have to try to calm down before I say something I’ll regret later, but I’m protective over them, especially my younger sister Stephanie.

    Another thing that causes my blood to boil: being at football games in the home stadium with away fans talking crap. Ohhhh I just want to snap back at them (especially when we’re winning!) and say “SCOREBOARD!”

    …yeah I’m a competitive person 😀

  26. Patience is definitely one of my weaknesses (and Travis’ strengths). Especially when it comes to parenting. I often overschedule myself and forget that Henry and Clara need more time of me just relaxing with them. Being patient and content in the moment. I’m a work in progress.

  27. I need to get better with patience….it’s something I’m working on.

  28. Great post. I’ve always said that patience is a virtue that I do not possess, but being a stepmother has certainly taught me that it can be learned. I’m sure you can relate!

    My mom and I have a very contentious relationship and it’s pretty bad right now. My hurt and anger makes me SO impatient with her and the entire situation. I can’t control who she is or change her into what I need her to be, so I have to take that deep breath and step back. It’s not easy and it truly tests me like nothing else. But we can’t become better people unless we learn from these lessons, right?

  29. Kelly says:

    I am ridiculously impatient but I have some things going on right now that are forcing me to be anything but patient.

    Thanks for all your encouragement with the fires we’ve had. This community is really amazing! They are putting out final numbers and it looks like over 2000 homes were destroyed. So sad.

  30. I’m definitely not very patient. I need to work on that.

  31. Kiah says:

    I love your faith posts! I’m still figuring out how to blog about my faith 🙂
    I’d say arguing with my husband gets my blood boiling…I kind of enjoy fighting, but I’m learning to just let things go. Otherwise, when I am REALLY angry, he won’t even notice! 🙂

  32. You know, it’s weird because there are some things that I am really patient about and others that I have hardly any patience for…I really need to learn how to become more patient in those areas haha. And I think adding some crushed up blue-corn chips to those salads would be great! 🙂

  33. Lauren says:

    What a fun night!! Taco salads are a great way to catch up with good friends. 🙂

    I love that quote too! It’s good to be reminded that our timing is not usually the right timing.

  34. I am still trying to learn patience. I think it is something that takes a lifetime to master. Whenever I am being impatient I remind myself that there is a reason that I am being made to stop and slow down, and to savor that moment.

  35. For a southwest salad… I’d probably bring homemade salsa and/or some sort of black bean and corn salsa. YUM.

    I get really impatient and frustrated with selfish people… when they think about no one but themselves. I just don’t understand it. I do know I need to do a better job at practicing patience! Thank you for the reminder. 🙂

  36. I am so thankful you share what you learn from these talks with us. It is always something so thoughtful. Especially this. I love what it emphasizes and it is certainly a lesson we can all take something away from. Thanks for sharing!

  37. There are some things i’m really patient with, and some things i’m not! Like with weight loss- so not patient. My motivation and determination is seriously lacking! i want to be at my goal/happy weight already! And lately i have not been wanting to do the work that i need to, to get there. Something’s gotta change!

  38. I love this post and your tips. Lately I’ve been impatient with wanting so many things to happen in our lives and I have to remind myself of what you said in that I need to remember to live in the moment and not let life pass me by. Heck I can’t believe summer is already over and it’s almost December, where did this year ago?! I really just need to relax and enjoy life and remember how blessed I am to have so many wonderful people and love in my life 🙂

  39. Jen says:

    Clever potluck idea!

    I like the Fitness and Fun too but thank you especially for your “Faith” posts.

  40. Patience is something that I feel God is always trying to teach me. Just when I think I’ve learned my lesson (probably way too early..again, rushing) I am thrown into another situation that proves that I have not. I teache 7th – 12th graders, so there are about five classes of people who test/teach me patience on a daily basis.

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