I recently traveled by myself to NC for a ladies retreat. (Yes, the one where I lost my phone in the ocean.) Jimmy and I are not apart a lot, and I find that when he is not with me, I miss him!
While walking through the airport, I saw an older couple holding hands, just taking their time meandering along chatting. It was sweet. They were in no hurry, still enjoying each other’s company after what I imagined was many years together. They were smiling, walking carefully. It touched my heart that they were so happy to be together still. It was a precious scene and made me miss my husband more.
So I snapped their picture and sent it to Jimmy with the caption: ‘Us in twenty years, Lord willing.’ You know, because we fly together pretty regularly, and I hope we will still be as in love as we are now. Or maybe more so if the love songs are to be believed.
(FYI, this is not that photo. It was lost in the ocean along with my phone.)
But I find a contradiction in myself.
The other day I was at Wegmans, in a hurry because I was running late, expecting people at my house. As I checked out, an older couple finished just before me, and I ended up behind them on the way out of the store. They, too, were meandering along in no hurry, her arm tucked into his as he pushed the cart.
And instead of it being sweet, it was annoying. UGH! Why do they have to walk so SLOWLY? Why do they have to hold hands and be NEXT TO EACH OTHER?!? I can’t even get AROUND them when they walk like that!!! Don’t they know I’m in a hurry?!?
And the Lord rebuked my heart and reminded me of the couple in the airport and how sweet that was to me. It was a very similar circumstance. The only difference was: *gulp* me.
It’s like going to someone else’s house for the first time, and it’s dark outside. I drive slowly, squinting, wondering if it’s the right house before I finally pull in the driveway. It’s offensive when people zoom around me frustrated, or honk at me, or flash their brights, telling me to hurry up.
But when I’m caught behind someone else doing so, I want to zoom around them, maybe even throw up my hands and say sarcastically “Oh come ON- YOU CAN MAKE THE TURN. I KNOW YOU CAN DO IT!” like talking to a baby learning to walk, even though they can’t hear me.
My perspective can turn something from a positive to a negative pretty quickly, if I let my mind and heart go there. Things that are sweet can become bitter if I don’t control my thoughts and my heart.
Oh, and my tongue.
Even when my only dialogue is internal.
One of my friends long ago shared with me that she tended to speed when she drove. And God started sending her ‘pace cars’ to make sure she followed the speed limit. At first it was annoying, but then she realized she needed them. They helped her slow down and she didn’t get tickets as much.
Sometimes God sends us spiritual or physical ‘pace cars’. Things that force us to slow down, that delay our progress in a thing that maybe we’ve jumped into too quickly. Or just to remind us that life doesn’t have to be a hectic race all the time. Slowing down is okay, and we need times to be still.
Lord help me not to rush others who need time, or be frustrated with circumstances that slow me down. Help me to take things at Your pace and be thankful instead of being frustrated or angry.
Proverbs 16:32
He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.
Psalm 46:10
Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.
1 Corinthians 13:4,5
(4) Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
(5) Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
James 3:8-10
(8) But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
(9) Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.
(10) Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.
Of Faith & Fortitude 
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