In my blog post on the last day of 2012, where I reviewed how I got on with the aims I’d made at the start of 2012 (in My Aims 2012 – Review of the Year), I spoke about how I have tried (and failed often) to be more patient with others. So although I haven’t made patience a specific aim for this new year, I do intend to try to be more patient.
As patience is something I know many of us find difficult to attain and retain, I thought I’d share a few thoughts on patience with you today.
Before we go any further, can I ask you to close your eyes for 30 seconds…
Did that feel like ages?
I don’t know about you, but I’m not really a very patient person. If someone is doing something for me, I expect it to be done now. If I get something new, I want to use it now. If someone does something wrong I get frustrated.
Maybe that’s why I find it so hard to wait for God‘s answers to my questions and my prayers!
…and yet I know God will always answer my prayers, maybe not today or tomorrow, maybe not in the way I wanted on expected, but He will answer them.
So why not join me today in pledging to be more patient, not just with others but also with God.
Have you noticed the common theme of my blog posts this last week?
They were all about patience…
Patience is something some of us have and many of us strive to obtain. It’s something we all need at times, but many of us fail to use when we need it.
Personally patience has always been something I’ve never had much of. However over the last 10-15 years I know I have become a more patient person – That definitely does not mean I am always patient, far from it. I have made a conscious attempt over the last while to become a more patient person, as I was well aware of the negative affects my impatience was having on both myself and those around me.
There are many around me who also find it difficult to be patient…but I would like to mention one in particular to you today, my Mum.
If you’ve been reading my blog posts for a while, you’ll be aware that my Dad suffers from vascular dementia and has deteriorated very quickly over the last year or two. My Mum is currently still caring for Dad at home, although she is finding it increasingly difficult cope with Dad, despite social work helping with some things these days. Mum often says to me and others, that she prays constantly for patience…
Because of Dad’s dementia, it is very waring for Mum caring for Dad, both physically and emotionally as constantly having to explain and repeat thing must be exhausting for Mum, nevermind coping with some of the strange things Dad does!
I’ve often wondered whether patience is something you’re either born with, or have no chance of ever having. What do you think? Can you learn to be patient or is it simply something you have or don’t have? Do we even really understand what patience is?
Here’s the dictionary definition of patience:
tolerant and even-tempered perseverance
the capacity for calmly enduring pain, trying situations, etc without complaining
not being hasty or impetuous
any of various card games for one player only, in which the cards may be laid out in various combinations as the player tries to use up the whole pack
Whether we consider ourselves to normal be patient or not, I’m sure we all lose our patience sometimes. So what makes you lose your patience? Is it particular people, people with particular personalities, specific events/occasions, or specific things?
Personally I think that the world in which we live makes it more and more difficult for us to be patient, as everyone seems to want everything now and any thought of putting something of until everything has been considered in more detail, may be laughed off as a ridiculous suggestion. So how does this help any of us be patient?
As with other areas of our lives, we can only hope to be truly patient through God‘s help. Here’s a Prayer for Patience that was written by Helen Steiner Rice
God, teach me to be patient, teach me to go slow,Teach me how to wait on You when my way I do not know.Teach me sweet forbearance when things do not go rightSo I remain unruffled when others grow uptight.Teach me how to quiet my racing, rising heartSo I might hear the answer You are trying to impart.Teach me to let go, dear God, and pray undisturbed untilMy heart is filled with inner peace and I learn to know your will.
Why of why, I hear you asking, is she posting a blog about the life of a newspaper! Well here’s my reason…
Earlier this week my husband had a hospital appointment which I attended with him. We got to the hospital about 15 minutes early for his appointment, so joined the other folk already sitting in the waiting area, waiting to be called for their appointment. As is often the case at these places, despite the number of people in the waiting area, it was still quite quiet there.
So I did what I think many of us do in these situations, I looked around the waiting area at the various characters…
I noticed one guy sitting in the corner flicking through a newspaper, without seeming to spend enough time on any page to read any of the stories. A few minutes later he chucked the newspaper onto the small table in front of him and sat back in his chair with arms folded.
Within a few seconds, another man came into the waiting area, and as he went to sit down, he picked up the recently discarded newspaper. He immediately turned to the back page of the paper and started reading through the various sports pages.
A few minutes later my husband got called for his appointment, so I was left myself to observe (and listen to my ipod!).
When the guy who was currently reading the newspaper (sports pages) was called for his appointment, the newspaper got thrown back on the table again. Within a few seconds, a woman who was already in the waiting area, picked up the paper. So what bit of the paper did she start reading first?
She started with the front page and then when she read that, went to the back page!
Once she discarded the paper, it was a young guy who picked up the paper next. He seemed to be in the same situation as me, there waiting for someone else, so it was probably no great surprise that he seemed to settle down to read the whole paper, starting with the sports pages and then going to the front page and working through the paper from there.
By the time my husband returned from his appointment, this young guy was still reading the paper, so who knows how many more people picked up and discarded the paper during the rest of the day!
So what is my point of telling you all this about the newspaper in the hospital waiting area? Well it got me thinking about a just how many people one small newspaper came into contact with in just one hour. i.e. the different personalities, the various personal circumstances and situations, problems and issues being dealt with by each person.
It also got me thinking about how reading the stories in the paper may have affected or influenced the people who read them. i.e. Maybe some of the stories where about something the liked, maybe they were about a subject/event they have personally been affected/involved with.
In summary, this short time in the hospital waiting area, just reminded me how different we all are – we all read newspapers in different way (i.e. some start at the front, others the middle and others at the back); we all have different personalities reflect in the way we read the newspaper; we all have personal lives which are unknown to others, i.e. you can’t tell by looking at most people what difficulties they may be trying to cope with in their personal lives.
Don’t judge others on what you can see, as you never know what struggles they may be having to cope with in their personal life.
Our world is a world in need of many things, one of which is patience. Unfortunately however, patience is one thing which many of us struggle with, but what is patience?
tolerant and even-tempered perseverance
the capacity for calmly enduring pain, trying situations, etc.
The worries of our lives, our families, our work, all combine together to make it difficult for us to be patient when life isn’t going well for us.
However God recognises that patience is a quality he wants us all to possess, while recognising that patience can be a difficult quality to possess.
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
Please take a few moments to reflect on how much patience you possess, and whether you are in need of further patience…
Don’t be afraid to ask God for patience, because He does want us to have patience throughout our times of tribulation. When we pray for patience God may in fact send even more troubles our way, but He may also take all our troubles away and send sunshine our way.
How many times have you looked back over your live and realized that the times when you faced your biggest tribulations might have been the toughest times of your life, but they were also the times when you learned the most, both about yourself and your faith. I myself can testify to that!
Please join with me in the following prayer:
Lord, we thank you for the patience you have with me every day, with my humanness and stubbornness. Help me Lord to look to you for patience in times of trouble, jubilant in times of joy, and more consistent in my prayer life. Teach me, Lord, to wait with faith and expectancy, and help me to see my trials as times for growth in grace. In Your holy name, I pray these things. Amen.
Composed and arranged music for bands/groups/ensembles/individuals.
Avid football fan.
Now imagine another man – This man…
Spends most of his time in bed.
When up, struggles to stay awake.
Is dizzy whenever he stands up.
Rarely goes out the house.
Doesn’t recognise people or places he knows well.
Struggles to remember what he’s been told just a few minutes earlier.
Has difficultly distinguishing between reality and fiction. i.e. He’s adamant about some things which we know are not real.
Has lost some of the ability to perform everyday tasks.
So who are these men I’ve described? Well both are the same man, and that man is my Dad!
The first man I described was my Dad prior to the onset of vascular dementia, while the second is a current description of him.
Dementia is one of those illnesses which I think unless you’re directly affected by it, will think it’s just a big word for someone who’s forgetful…if only!
Life has been drastically changed in the last year for both my Mum and my Dad, as my Dad’s dementia has quickly progressed to it’s current state. Mum now has help Dad with most things as well as explain the same things over and over again to him.
It’s sad to see someone you know and love deteriorating before your eyes, especially as there is nothing we can do to prevent it. However I think what makes it even harder for my Mum in particular, is the fact that my Dad was obviously a very clever guy, but this illness has now reduced him to someone who doesn’t even recognise family or friends anymore.
I find it hard when with Dad, so I can only imagine how Mum feels coping with him 24/7 – Mind you at least the doctor agreed a couple of weeks ago to try and get her some help, as personally I felt she was taking on too much as I can’t be there with her and Dad all the time.
Dad’s told Mum a number of times in the last few months that he’s not got long to go – Mum was understandably upset by this, as I was when she told me. However the doctor still tells us that other than his dementia, Dad is very well for his age, so maybe it’s just because Dad doesn’t really know what’s happening to him that he’s saying this.
Last Friday was the 25th March, and on Friday, Dad apparently asked Mum what date it was, and when she answered it was the 25th, Dad started wishing himself “Happy Birthday”…There was only one problem with this…Dad’s birthday is the 25th of April not the 25th of March! So very sad.
In closing I’d just like to ask you to pray for my Dad, and also for my Mum as she cares for him as dementia is more than just someone being a bit forgetful, it’s a debilatating illness that affects not only for the sufferer but also their family and friends.
In addition, please pray for all those around the world suffering from, or caring for someone with demenita, it’s a tough life, and one that everyone concerned needs our prayerful support for.
Yesterday I was at Golden Jubilee Hospital in Clydebank for another MRI scan – over the last few years I’ve had quite of few of these so knew what to expect.
No matter how many MRI scans I have or how frequently I have them, I’m still surprised by just how loud they are. I hadn’t been feeling that well before I went in for my scan, but by the time my scan was finished my head was absolutely thumping.
For those of you who have never had an MRI scan before, let me just explain to you a little bit about MRI scans…
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a type of scan that is often used to diagnose health conditions that affect organs, tissue and bone.
MRI scans use strong magnetic fields and radio waves to produce a detailed image of the inside of the body. The device that carries out MRI scans is known as an MRI scanner. The scanner consists of a large tube that contains a series of powerful magnets. The patient lies inside the tube during the scan.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can be used to look at almost any part of the body. It is most often used to study:
For some MRI scans, you will be given an injection of a special dye, known as a contrast agent. This makes certain tissues and blood vessels show up more clearly and with greater detail on the scan.
As MRI scans are painless, anaesthetic is not usually required.
An MRI scanner is a short tunnel which is open at both ends. During the procedure, you lie on a motorised bed, which is moved inside the scanner.
A small receiving device is placed behind or around the part of your body being scanned. You are moved into the scanning tube, either head or feet-first, depending on which part of your body is being scanned.
A computer is used to operate the MRI scanner. The computer is located in a different room to the scanner to keep it away from the magnetic field generated by the scanner.
As the radiographer operates the computer, they will also be in a separate room to you. However, you will be able to talk to them, usually through an intercom, and they will be able to see you at all times on a television monitor.
During your scan, a friend or family member may be allowed to stay in the room with you. Children can usually have a parent with them. Anyone who stays in the scanner room with you will be asked the same questions as you about pacemakers and metal objects in their body, and will have to follow the same guidelines about clothing and removing metallic objects.
To avoid the images being blurred, it is very important that you keep the part of your body being scanned still throughout the procedure. Depending on the size of the area being scanned and how many pictures are taken, a typical scan lasts between 15 and 90 minutes.
At certain times during the procedure, the MRI scanner will make a loud knocking noise. You may be given earplugs or headphones to wear. The noise is caused by the magnets in the machine being turned on and off.
After your scan has been completed, you will be moved back out of the scanner.
MRI scans are usually performed as an outpatient procedure, so there is no need for an overnight stay in hospital. Once the scan is over, most people can resume their normal activities immediately.
(The above is an extract from the NHS information pages on MRI scans – so please refer there for further information)
I know the above just talks about a “loud knocking noise”, but that’s a little bit of an understatement as it makes more than just some loud knocking noises!
So why am I writing this?Well, here’s my plea to all you scientists out there, please, please, please can someone develop a silent MRI scanner soon! I’m sure I can’t be the only person who’s ended up with a thumping headache after an MRI scan, so please, for anyone who has ever had (or will have in the future) an MRI scan, we’d appreciate it if a quieter one could be developed.
Well it’s my name for a day none of us ever want to have to face…a day when we, or a loved one receive that devastating news that they have cancer – the “C” of C-Day!
Thankfully I have never had a C-Day for me or any of my immediate family, so I cannot imagine what being told you (or a loved one) has cancer. My hubby though has been in that unenviable situation several times as both his dad and his sister have fought and ultimately lost their battle with cancer.
I never knew my hubby’s dad, however it did know his sister. Unfortunately I never really got a chance to get to know her very well as she had already been diagnosed with cancer when I first meet her. So the few years that I knew her were tough ones for her as she was often very ill and in pain, therefore trying to build a relationship during these times was difficult. Though I’d like to think that she appreciated my prayers for her and her family during those difficult times.
That’s my bad experiences of C-Day, but having a C-Day is far from being the certain death sentence it once was, particularly with certain types of cancers, and how early they are diagnosed. I have had two close friends and know of four others, who over the last 10-15 years have been diagnosed with some form of cancer, and all of them are still enjoying a happy and healthy life.
Don’t get me wrong I am far from trivialising cancer, as I know there are still many people who are diagnosed with cancer who don’t survive. However what I am trying to say is, medical science has improved over the years so the percentage survival rates of those diagnosed with cancer have improved greatly.
Like many illnesses, I think cancer for many is just as hard for the patient’s family and friends to cope with as the patient themselves. I know certainly when I was really ill a few years ago, I always felt those around me were having just a tough a time as I was, dealing with it.
Cancer doesn’t care who it affects, young old, believer or non believer. Every day there is someone out there facing a C-Day.
So today I’d ask that we all spend some time praying for those battling cancer, their families and their friends. Please pray for healing for those with cancer, and strength for those supporting those with cancer. Also those caring for cancer sufferer need our prayers too, they do an excellent job, but one which must be so distressing for them at time, but also so rewarding when those they’ve treated are given “the all clear”.
My thoughts and prayers go out today to all affected by cancer, now or in the past. Please remember God can be your strength through these very difficult and distressing times.
One song which I always turn to when I am really struggling is Praise You In This Storm by Casting Crowns, I hope the words strike a chord with you today:
Praise You In This Storm by Casting Crowns
I was sure by now,God, that You would have reached down
and wiped our tears away,
stepped in and saved the day.
But once again, I say amen
and it’s still raining
as the thunder rolls
I barely hear You whisper through the rain,
“I’m with you”
and as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise
the God who gives and takes away.
Chorus:
And I’ll praise you in this storm
and I will lift my hands
for You are who You are
no matter where I am
and every tear I’ve cried
You hold in your hand
You never left my side
and though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm
I remember when I stumbled in the wind
You heard my cry to You
and raised me up again
my strength is almost gone how can I carry on
if I can’t find You
and as the thunder rolls
I barely hear You whisper through the rain
“I’m with you”
and as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise
the God who gives and takes away
Chorus
I lift my eyes onto the hills
where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth
I lift my eyes onto the hills
where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth
We hear so many people moaning and groaning about the health service and all the things that are wrong with it…but what about the things that are right with it?
I am in no way saying I think our health service is perfect or in some cases even good, because that just isn’t true, but I would like to say some positive things about it, so here goes…
Over the last few years I spent a lot of time at hospitals being tested for one thing or another, and then after diagnosis, many two operations and many subsequent appointments to check progress. Added to that this year I’ve also been at the hospital with my Dad and also my husband on various occasions. I must admit that those who have actually treated each of us have been very professional and particularly in my own case, very understanding and caring too. All of which are just the things you want when your feeling worried and concerned and maybe a bit nervous about what’s going to happen.
Again in my own situation there were a number of times when i waited and waited for things to move on at the hospital or get a date for surgery, or even just an update, but I must sing the praises of my own GP who did a fantastic job phoning and chasing the hospital. Also in Sandy’s case after basically being dismissed from one hospital who said they couldn’t help, she again got that sorted out, by getting him refered to another hospital to see a specialist there.
So yes there are problems with our health system, but there are some fantastic patient focused doctors and nurses out there too, who will do anything they can to help their patients – we must appreciate what we have, as so many countries have no health service at all.
Within a few seconds, another man came into the waiting area, and as he went to sit down, he picked up the recently discarded newspaper. He immediately turned to the back page of the 
We hear so many people moaning and groaning about the health service and all the things that are wrong with it…but what about the things that are right with it?
