Waiting Patiently, Prepared and Ready to Go

It happened one too many times.  Driving down the road, we were late, again.  I shook my head in wonder.  How could this happen again?  It was becoming a habit.  A bad habit that needed to be broken.  Worst of all, it was not I who caused us to be late.  It was the children rushing around at the very last minute gathering supplies, missing shoes, and jackets.  From my spot by the door, I rushed with words of urgency and no results.  We had left later than necessary.  This had to stop, I decided.

The next day, we implemented a few new rules.  Rules that included children being beside the front door, shoes and jackets on, and supplies gathered a few minutes before we needed to leave.  There they stood waiting patiently for me, as I picked up my bag, and joined them at the door.  They were prepared, ready to go.
Humpf, I thought, that's more like it.  They are waiting for me.  That's how it should be...children waiting for the adult.  That's respect.  Definitely better than the other way around like it had been!

My triumph lasted briefly.  Up until the moment it dawned on me... 

As a child of the King, how often was I rushing around doing things haphazardly at the last minute.

Am I waiting patiently, prepared and ready to go, when He calls?

~ Dorie

This post is the eighth in a series of posts pondering the fruit of the Spirit.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness,
and self control.   Against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23