The Power of Patience!
There are too many similarities between training dogs and guiding children. Two of the largest similarities is that of repetition and of patience, both of which work so well together.
Repetition: The 4-year old who asks everyday just before dinner, "Mom, can I have a cookie?" will do so for six months until they have sufficiently trained YOU to stick with your guns and always reply, "Yes, you may have a cookie, but after dinner. While you wait, would you like to help me make the salad?" It may take the entire six months before the toddler feels the parents are sufficiently trained and then will move on to asking "Mom, may I have ice cream?". <Cue Patience!>
Patience: Dogs are all about immediate gratification. They don't care about waiting. For example, they see the leash and know IT is the device that opens that front door to the world of walks. So, let's make it happen as soon as possible! If I run around and charge toward the door, she'll certainly put that magical door opening device on me and off we'll go! Pet owners - sound familiar? Sheesh! Drives me nuts trying to get the dog to chill and be still so I can attach the stinkin' leash and get them on their merry way!! <cue Patience> Now the routine goes like this: Hey puppy, see this leash, well, it won't even go into my hand until your cute little tush is planted on the ground. Oops, I see you stood up, so now I need to put the leash back. We'll try again in a little while. In the meantime, I'm going to go get my sunglasses. I'm back again. Are you sitting? Yes! Here's the leash, and oh, too bad, your tush is off the ground again. Oh well. We'll wait. Time for me to check my phone messages. Oh, only two - this won't be long. And thus it goes until the pup understands that leash = tush on floor. <cue Repetition>
This circular cycle of patience and repetition is spiraling out of control in our lives. Patience did help me solve a mystery of a broken drawer in our master bathroom. Repetition has prevented many headaches from recurring (by there are several new sources from whence headaches spring!). I love this tutoring session given me by a wise and all-knowing Father who (I'm sure) chuckles each time I learn a little more about His view of my life. Now the routine goes like this: Hey Tami, see this blessing, well it is in my hand ready to give to you if you will but reach to me for it. Oh, too bad, I see you are reaching sideways and not up. I'll hold this wonderful blessing until you can reach up. Oh, you're back again. Great! Yes! Here's the blessing and there you go looking down. But I'm up here, waiting, beckoning. I'll wait. And thus it goes until I understand that blessings = looking to God to live. <cue humility and love>
New
I love to have order and checked-off lists. The peace I get from it is hard to explain. So when something new comes into my home, my closet, my purse....I immediately categorize it, assign it a place and, without hesitation, get rid of old stuff to make room for the new item. Our move to Texas six months ago (wow, it's really been six months), has challenged me for peace and order. Some days I glance around the house and feel everything is good in the world. No clutter. Nothing out of sorts. The home functions and flows easily. Other days, I see a box tucked in a closet and think - really? I thought we got rid of all of you. Dare I open it and then have to deal with it's contents or push it aside for another day? Obviously there's room on this closet shelf for it, so it's just fine. Buuuut, that need for orderliness kicks in and I open the box. I usually find books. Makes me want to scream. Don't misunderstand, I love books, but why couldn't this house come with at least ONE built-in bookshelf?! There are none and hardly any available wall space to place a shelf. These newer homes are all angles and open design, that a bookshelf seems intrusive in most places. There are plenty of TV niches (whatever!) and zero happy places for books. So, I'm back to making lists of things that money can't afford yet and wishing for some ingenuity to create bookshelves out of packing boxes! In the meantime, I braved the man-cave and finally (with the help of some amazing Maloney girls) parked two cars in our garage. I feel a little more peaceful just thinking about it.
Newer
I'm unsure how other people feel about this, but I feel quite pigeon-holed in my church responsibilities. Most of the time, we expect and are prepared to serve in our local congregations or wards as teachers, leaders, auxiliary support... Then, there are those times when we are asked to serve in a Stake position (Stake is a grouping of wards. Wards typically have 300-350 members. A Stake may have 8-12 wards or 2,400 to 4,200 members). In Georgia, I was blessed to work in the Stake Young Women assisting the planning of events, activities, celebrations and camps for 500+ young women ages 12-18 in the Roswell, GA area. I worked with some amazing women who taught me much at my young age and guided my mothering of my small children. The energy and vitality of the youth was electrifying which was good, because meeting the needs of all those youth was daunting! In Alabama, I worked with the Cultural Arts committee assisting in the planning of events, activities and celebrations for 3,800 members! Sometimes the activity would be for the adults only and we would plan for 400-500 and other times it was open to the community and we would just hope it all worked out. Later, I worked with the Public Affairs Council of the Madison AL Stake and enjoyed community outreach and media relations with groups in Northern Alabama.
Most recently I've been called to work as the Director of Public Affairs for the Cypress Texas Stake which is a part of the Houston Coordinating Council.
Daunting is a mild description of the weight of responsibility I feel. I am blessed to be a part of a wonderful council who has their act together and loves the Lord and His work. I am humbled to be with them.
Some of the items with which the Cypress TX Stake Public Affairs Council is tasked:
- Building relationships with community leaders and organization to strengthen our community.
- Encouraging inter-faith relations focusing on those things that unify us, for there is more that unifies us than divides.
- Assisting the Stake President as spokesperson for the Church in this area.
- Establishing community service with organizations and groups that meet the needs of the poor in our area.
- Correcting, when needed, media reports or other misinformation about the Church, it's teachings, practices and stance.
- Unifying our relief efforts to provide world-wide assistance.
Here's my reply:
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Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
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I cried unto the Lord with my voice; with my voice unto the Lord did I make my supplication.
The record sheet shows Nathan as runner #705, age 16, male and placing SEVENTH in his age group (ages 13-19). He completed the race in 53:45 - which averages to an 8 1/2 minute mile!!! This was his first race ever - I'm so pleased for him!!
