My dear daughter, ballerina princess that she is, dances around the living room. No music playing that we can hear. She moves blissfully to the song in her soul. Beautiful.

My dear son, bulldog determined as he is, recites his Awana memory verses. Words leaving his lips correctly, yet disconnected from his heart. He erupts impatient to the distraction of his sister. Ugly.

His Scripture passage, James 1:19, states, "My dear brothers, take note of this: everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry." It was under the topic, "I can be patient with other people." Ironic.

This vignette is not recounted for you to conclude I have one precious child & one mean child. No, far from it, my kids are kids. They have their moments like all of us.

He could have danced with her.

He could have ignored her dancing.

He could have refocused on his own task.

He could have thought about what he was saying.

He could have... you can imagine your own ending.

This vignette - dancing or erupting, joyful or hateful - where patience was spoken yet impatient irony acted is retold to make us each think.

What do I do when my buttons are pushed?

What do I say when my limit is exceeded?

Where is the irony between my words & deeds?

How do I handle unexpected challenges?

How do I respond to difficult circumstances?

Dancing?

Erupting?

Joyful?

Angry?

Patience has been called the chief Christian virtue. Toughest earned. Hardest exercised. Foundational to faith. Hallmark of maturity.

Dancing. Patience. We could all use a little more of both.

My dear brothers, take note of this: everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, & slow to become angry. James 1:19