Just Breathe and Count to Ten

Have you ever wondered what a word not only means, but feels like? Lately, I have. Have you ever prayed for God to show you what a word is and looks like...and He does? Me too. Have you ever prayed for patience and quickly realized never to do that again! Haha. Me too. So, you would think by now I would stop asking the Lord to demonstrate a word to me...but no. My desire to know at times outweighs my contentment with what I do know, or think I know. I was invited to a bible study last night by a girlfriend and the question arose about what the meaning of a certain word means. It's one of those words you think you know, and for most of the part, you know the basic meaning. When they asked the question "what is the difference between patience and tolerance" I answered like this: While raising my son, I was patient waiting for him to grow up...however, I knew while he was growing up, he was going to do some things questionable along the way, but I would still love him". Pretty soon, the study was over, we visited and I went home quite happy. As I closed the garage door and proceeded to walk straight back into my bedroom, I see some white stuff on the floor. The further I walk in, and turn on lights the more of this white stuff there is?!! There all through my bedroom, bathroom and living room are piles and piles of shredded toilet paper strewn all over the place! I stand still...as in total shock and denial. How on earth did this happen and who did it!??? As I follow the paper, it becomes quite clear that the puppies had somehow gotten into the linen closet, got down a four pack roll of Charmin toilet paper and went to town!! Now, they are so happy I'm home that they are jumping on me and licking me...but I'm busy taking evidence photos. For a brief second I felt like committing Harry carry, but after they were posing proudly before their project, it occurred to me that now I know what tolerance feels like. I got ready for bed, slept great and didn't clean it up (because the photos need to be brighter haha). Puppies don't do things on purpose to get into trouble...they don't know any better. People that don't really know the Lord don't mean to make fun of certain things, they just don't know any better. Even Jesus said, "forgive them, for they know not what they do". Our job is to love them anyway and encourage them along the way. Now, who wants to come help me clean this up??