$3 Flip-Flops
I have never thought that God would teach me a lesson through a $3 pair of flip-flops. Well I was wrong, because God is teaching me PATIENCE with them.
When we were in Panajachel I bought a $3 pair of rubber flip-flops because it rained everyday and I didn’t want to ruin my leather Rainbows I brought with me. The cheap pair lasted about 2 days before they started to fall apart. It was funny at first, but after having to fix them every other day I started to get annoyed with them. On June 25th I was asked to mow the lawn at the compound we are staying at. Well, I was wearing my super cheap flip-flops and sure enough they fell apart, as usual, well 4 times in an hour and a half. I was not so happy about that. I was frustrated, BUT was it the flip-flops I was frustrated with or was it something deeper than that?
Hailee, one of my teammates, noticed I was frustrated and said God is teaching you patience through your flip-flops. I joked about it but really didn’t think about it till I read 1 Corinthians 13 today.
“LOVE IS PATIENT”…… ouch
“LOVE IS KIND”……oops
“LOVE IS KIND”……oops
I had to stop right there and reflect on how often this past month I have not been patient with my team, contacts, people and especially with God.
I have been getting frustrated with little things that my team is doing or not doing and not being patient about the situations.
BUT what God is really teaching me is to be patient with HIM and not expect things when I want them, but that they will come in His time and in that time it will be PERFECT.
HE is in CONTROL of every situation and of all TIME. I have come to realize that today. To give up all control that I’m holding onto and giving it ALL back to my Father in Heaven. Also to be patient for what He has planned for me, to listen to His voice, and WAIT in silence, so that I can follow Him with everything I have and more, because He is leading me.
The $3 pair of flip-flops are still falling apart, but it is OK, because God wants me to be patient through them. I pray that I will continue to listen to Him and be patient with my Team and God.
1 Corinthians 13:4-8
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. LOVE NEVER FAILS…”
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. LOVE NEVER FAILS…”
