Patience and Trust

I've spent most of my life harboring just a sliver of skepticism towards all of those comments like, "I felt the Lord's leading in this direction" or "I really heard the Lord say to me that..." Over the last year or so, however, I've been learning how to better tune in to His voice. It's been amazing!

A few weeks ago, I asked the Lord what He was trying to teach me through this whole sell-the-house thing. Because, you know, we've had the house on the market for a year and a half, and NOTHING has happened. And, you know, I'm not the most patient person in the world. I very clearly heard His answer: patience and trust. Since then, I have felt covered in peace about the situation.

Speaking of the situation, I personally spoke with a potential buyer just this morning. With plans to transplant from New Jersey, the family will likely come see the house this weekend or early next week. A really nice family. Two teenage boys (who would love the pool). Former homeschoolers. After I hung up with the lady, I started to feel that familiar panicky feeling as I surveyed the recent tornadic action here within the house. But I remembered those words--patience and trust--and continued the kids' schooling.

Michael's reading today happened to be about a missionary family to China. When John and Isobel Kuhn first arrived in China, worry began to creep into Isobel's heart. She was worried about getting her piano to the Lisu people to whom she would minister through music. She worried about the treacherous trail that lead to her new "home", which was nothing more than a gloomy little hut. As the worry began to well up in her heart, she clearly heard God say to her, "Trust Me."

What a great reinforcement through a third grade reader! I am wallowing in patience and trust right now. Will I rush through the house like a madwoman with my Lysol and Windex? Maybe, but it needs a good cleaning anyway; but...I won't freak out if I can't get to everything. I have four children; anyone should understand this. Will I ask my sweet husband to cut the 3-foot tall weeds growing in the yard of the abandoned house at the entrance of our street? No...and not because he broke the blade of the lawn mower on the weeds the last time I made such a request, but because my God is a great God, and if it is in His plan to sell this house, it will sell regardless of what the neighbors' homes look like.

No worry this time. No freaking out. No high-pitched maniacal orders issued to the kids to GET IN THERE AND CLEAN NOW!!! (OK, so I did make them clean up their rooms this afternoon, but it's their chore AND it was impossible to walk into any of them!!) No deals with God, although I can't help but giggle a little when I think of the Deal I tried to make with God...and the fact that I just taught my first class at Bright Futures Academy this week. (God does have a sense of humor; I've seen it many times.) I will not freak out with impatience waiting to hear from these buyers after they visit, and I will not freak out if they decide on something else.

Patience and trust. That's what it's all about.