PATIENCE

Saturday, November 15, 2008
As I was reading a few days ago, I came across a scripture in Luke 21:19 that said 'In your patience possess ye your souls" I marked it but then forgot about it. Since then I have had several things happen that has really tried my patience. George (my husband) is on very heavy medication because of chronic pain, anxiety, inability to sleep, muscle spasms etc. He is like a walking Zombie. His speech is slow and he can hardly keep his balance standing in the middle of the room. He fell the other night at 2:30 a.m. which scared the daylights out of me. I jumped out of bed when I heard the glass doors of the shower being knocked off their tracks. Luckily they didn't fall and shatter all over him. He was scratched and bruised but not seriously injured. It took me 2 1/2 hours to settle down and get back to sleep. Needless to say I was a bit over tired for the next 2 days.
Last night I hurt his feelings when he wanted to read something to me in the newspaper. He is extremely slow in speaking and I have 'things' to do. So instead of 'waiting' to hear him read to me, I just grabbed the paper and said, "I'll just read it." It really made him feel bad. As I have pondered on it I realize that I just need to keep slowing my life down and take time for him so he can enjoy a better quality of life.
We live in such a 'hurry up' world' and I have been slow all of my life. My thought processes and learning ability has always been slow and people and have been telling me to to get moving, don't be lazy, why can't you keep up. Now I find acting the same way I was treated.
Today I was reading Pres. Monson's talk that he gave in the Priesthood session of the October Conference, 2008, and he quoted an old adage: "Do your duty, that is best; leave unto the Lord the rest." My DUTY is to learn as I serve my dear husband. Oh, I pray that the Lord will forgive me for being in such a hurry and continue to teach me Patience, Love, and Understanding. I certainly have a great opportunity to learn it right now and to help George through this life of trials and give him something to live for with MY TIME AND MY LOVE.