God Is Still Teaching Me

January 27, 2015 | By Chuck

We were over half-way home last Sunday afternoon when my daughter broke the news to me that she had left her phone in the locker room at school. Now, before I go any farther with this story allow me to give you an excuse, not for her, for me. When I leave the church building on Sundays around 12:30 I'm physically and mentally exhausted. Okay, thanks for listening to my excuse. So, after she gave me the unpleasant news, I was, let's just say, less than pleased. In fact, I was very aggravated and frustrated and even pulled from my repertoire lecture # 10. You know, the one on responsibility. You've probably heard that lecture. If you're a parent, I'm sure you've given that lecture a time or two. I have that lecture memorized and I proceeded to proclaim the lecture of lectures on the importance of responsibility as if I were in my favorite pulpit preaching to the masses. Oh, I was passionate, so much so that I think my blood pressure even raised a few notches. I knew she had heard all that I was saying before but I was determined that she would definitely hear it this time and I'd no doubt get my point across to her. Well, I was pretty tough on my little girl and she felt bad. She did get her phone back the next day at school, which is when I thought the story was over and done. How wrong I was. I typically don't go to the office on Monday but last Monday I did with the intent of getting a few things done early in the week. Around 4:20 last Monday afternoon I turned off my office light, locked and closed the door only to then realize that I had locked my keys inside my office. I was in a real bind so I called my humble brother, Jim Higgins, who cleans up after all of us at the church building. Jim willingly came to my rescue and unlocked my office, cleaning up yet another of my messes. Thanks Jim! As I drove out of the parking lot that evening it hit me right in the heart. I couldn't help but think about the lecture I had given that sweet little girl just over 24 hours earlier. Then I got it. I know, I'm a slow learner, stubborn and still faithfully attend the school of learning lessons the hard way. My teacher: the teacher of the year every year, the One who loves me like a son and treats me like one too, God, our Father in heaven. I was reminded of how patient God is with me, His son and I was challenged to be more patient with my own children. "Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience."(Col.3:12) I'm so thankful that God is patient with me and still teaching me.