"But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience." -Romans 8:25
While at a conference, every one said "You must go to this one particular ice cream shop" and EVERYONE said this. So after dinner, dessert was skipped and off to the ice cream shop to stand in line. Really.... you must be kidding me....this is an extremely long line for ... ice cream. If we are not at the lamppost in 45 minutes we are leaving. 45 minutes later we were just past the lamppost. Good one God, two minutes earlier my feet would have been on this side of the lamppost. Then, it was my turn to step inside the most nostalgic ice cream shop I have ever seen. Thank goodness God did not allow me to miss this! My patience for standing in line almost made me miss the guys dressed in 1940's attire, the ice cream cooler filled with over 30 different flavors, and all the toppings a girl could ask for.
This made me question how many other things have I skipped out of line for because my patience was only good for 45 minutes..... Patience is a virtue, one of those characteristics desired by many, yet a characteristic that must be taught. When I played softball, I hated giving up the first pitch. That first pitch was often the best because pitchers knew that most batters do not take the first pitch. I wanted it. I hated getting behind in the count. No patience. In college, I had to take the first pitch or on purpose miss it so that runners already on base could steal. A sacrifice for the greater good. I had to be patient for the greater good. I had to be taught patience.
"The unfolding of your words gives light;it imparts understanding to the simple." - Psalm 119:130
Once inside, there was a cooler filled with every flavor known to man. People were sampling the flavors and making decisions. Decisions of fun flavors with toppings galore. Now, it's my turn to order.... "Vanilla, please"... Vanilla... Really??
Yes, I got two scoops of plain, ol' vanilla ice cream. Out of all the fancy flavors of swirls, colors, and mixtures, this girl simply wanted vanilla.
Growing up, I feel my life was vanilla. Life was simple, simple with ordinary routines of a typical family. At times, in my life, I have tasted the fancy flavors with lots of toppings that boasted extravagance. However, at the end of the day, I always like the simple vanilla lifestyle. As I waited in line to get to the cash register, I realized just how much I truly loved vanilla.
Vanilla is simple. Vanilla is classic. Vanilla is liked by all. Vanilla is true. I like vanilla. Vanilla is not disguised by flavor additives that hide the inner core. Nothing is hidden, vanilla is pure. Yes, I have grown to appreciate a simple vanilla more and more.On this particular night, vanilla was happiness and realizing just how happy I was with the simpleness of vanilla.
"For our boast is this, the testimony of our conscience, that we behaved in the world with simplicity and godly sincerity, not by earthly wisdom but by the grace of God, and supremely so toward you."- 2 Corinthians 1:12
And every now and then you need to throw some sprinkles or confetti on your life. So when i got to the register, caramel was added to the vanilla. One topping was enough because after all you do not want to hide the true beauty of something so simple yet so perfect. I am thankful that God has awaken my soul to the pureness of vanilla. I strive to be like those simple characteristics: simple yet classy, liked by all, honest and true to my core. On those days when we just need a little something more, God is always there to remind us that our patience will allow His work to be done in our lives. "The words of Christ are marvelously simple and simply marvelous" (Jack Wellman, 2015).
As always, thank you for reading. It felt great last night to finally have a few moments to finish this blog post that I have been working on for a few weeks. I need to do a better job at setting aside time each week to write, so I will work on that. Hope everyone enjoys this rainy weekend. Sometimes I think God sends rain to make us catch up on some much needed rest! Hugs to all!
Faith, Patience, Love..... Joy
While at a conference, every one said "You must go to this one particular ice cream shop" and EVERYONE said this. So after dinner, dessert was skipped and off to the ice cream shop to stand in line. Really.... you must be kidding me....this is an extremely long line for ... ice cream. If we are not at the lamppost in 45 minutes we are leaving. 45 minutes later we were just past the lamppost. Good one God, two minutes earlier my feet would have been on this side of the lamppost. Then, it was my turn to step inside the most nostalgic ice cream shop I have ever seen. Thank goodness God did not allow me to miss this! My patience for standing in line almost made me miss the guys dressed in 1940's attire, the ice cream cooler filled with over 30 different flavors, and all the toppings a girl could ask for.
This made me question how many other things have I skipped out of line for because my patience was only good for 45 minutes..... Patience is a virtue, one of those characteristics desired by many, yet a characteristic that must be taught. When I played softball, I hated giving up the first pitch. That first pitch was often the best because pitchers knew that most batters do not take the first pitch. I wanted it. I hated getting behind in the count. No patience. In college, I had to take the first pitch or on purpose miss it so that runners already on base could steal. A sacrifice for the greater good. I had to be patient for the greater good. I had to be taught patience.
"The unfolding of your words gives light;it imparts understanding to the simple." - Psalm 119:130
Once inside, there was a cooler filled with every flavor known to man. People were sampling the flavors and making decisions. Decisions of fun flavors with toppings galore. Now, it's my turn to order.... "Vanilla, please"... Vanilla... Really??
Yes, I got two scoops of plain, ol' vanilla ice cream. Out of all the fancy flavors of swirls, colors, and mixtures, this girl simply wanted vanilla.
Growing up, I feel my life was vanilla. Life was simple, simple with ordinary routines of a typical family. At times, in my life, I have tasted the fancy flavors with lots of toppings that boasted extravagance. However, at the end of the day, I always like the simple vanilla lifestyle. As I waited in line to get to the cash register, I realized just how much I truly loved vanilla.
Vanilla is simple. Vanilla is classic. Vanilla is liked by all. Vanilla is true. I like vanilla. Vanilla is not disguised by flavor additives that hide the inner core. Nothing is hidden, vanilla is pure. Yes, I have grown to appreciate a simple vanilla more and more.On this particular night, vanilla was happiness and realizing just how happy I was with the simpleness of vanilla.
"For our boast is this, the testimony of our conscience, that we behaved in the world with simplicity and godly sincerity, not by earthly wisdom but by the grace of God, and supremely so toward you."- 2 Corinthians 1:12
And every now and then you need to throw some sprinkles or confetti on your life. So when i got to the register, caramel was added to the vanilla. One topping was enough because after all you do not want to hide the true beauty of something so simple yet so perfect. I am thankful that God has awaken my soul to the pureness of vanilla. I strive to be like those simple characteristics: simple yet classy, liked by all, honest and true to my core. On those days when we just need a little something more, God is always there to remind us that our patience will allow His work to be done in our lives. "The words of Christ are marvelously simple and simply marvelous" (Jack Wellman, 2015).
As always, thank you for reading. It felt great last night to finally have a few moments to finish this blog post that I have been working on for a few weeks. I need to do a better job at setting aside time each week to write, so I will work on that. Hope everyone enjoys this rainy weekend. Sometimes I think God sends rain to make us catch up on some much needed rest! Hugs to all!
Faith, Patience, Love..... Joy