|
Listen to this devotional: |
Listen while you read: "Eternal Father Strong To Save"1 (Lyrics) |
The other day, I answered a request to volunteer with ticket sales at a softball tournament to be held at the high school field in our small town. It had been years since any of our children had participated in such activities, as they are all now parents of children who are of high school age and above. It was June and it is Texas, USA, so I knew at the outset that it would be hot! Fortunately, the table where I received the payments was in the shade, and there was a breeze. There was a steady stream of customers, but I noticed that some folks went to the stands over by another field and did not come to pay.
When the organizer of the tournament called me about something, I mentioned that there were some people who had not come by the stand to pay. A bit later, she called again to say that those people were there to watch the practice of some six-year-olds who were to be in a tournament the following week. And then, the memories came!
We were new residents of Houston, Texas, and our son was in the first grade. My husband was asked to coach a team of six-year-olds that had not won a single game the previous year. He accepted the challenge, and he and some others began to work with these children. Over and over they went, explaining the rules and demonstrating the skills required to play. It was not easy, but the efforts were productive. The team won half of their games. The next year, it was the same thing, over and over and over, as one-half of the team had never played tee-ball at all. Even though there was no guarantee of success, those coaches kept working with the young boys. That year, they won the league.
After the tournament, on the ride home through our beautiful rural countryside, I reflected not only on the beauty of our area but also on God's grace and patience with each of us.
Psalm 86:15 – But you, Lord, are a compassionate God, merciful and patient, with unending gracious love and faithfulness. (ISV)
Coaches of six-year-old teams everywhere show infinite patience with their young charges, and sometimes, the children continue to make mistakes. Like those coaches, over and over and over, God is longsuffering with each of us, forgiving us for our many sins and constant in His love. God continues to show infinite patience with each of us — even when we are over six years old and continue to make the same mistakes over and over and over.
Let's practice the same patience with others' mistakes as God does with ours!
Prayer: Our Father God, we so easily forget how You show patience and persistent love for us on a daily basis. Help us to remember Your graciousness to us and remind us to practice this same patience and persistence in our lives as we deal with life's challenges and problems. Amen.
Forward this devotional Share this devotional on Facebook Like PresbyCan on Facebook
Although PresbyCan doesn't have a mobile app, you can still have a PresbyCan icon on your mobile phone home screen. 
Thursday, January 23, 2025 – In Europe — Pray for the Jewish community to be encouraged and feel the love of their non-Jewish Christian friends. Pray that the Holy Spirit would open the hearts and minds of these secular Jews, and for God's leadership in my work.
daughter: "Update December 30, 2024: And please touch her heart that she may turn to YOU.* November 12, 2024:..." 
Thanks for the encouraging words, Saranne.
Amen and Amen!
(Texas)
Thank you, Saranne, for sharing this encouraging devotional with us. Blessings.
Great devotional Punky! I hope I see more soon.
Blessings.
Wonderful analogy! Thank you, and thank you Lord for your patience with
each of us!! God bless.
Thank you, Saranne, for today’s devotion.
I enjoyed it very much.
(Quebec)
Hi Punky! How nice to see your devotional pop up in my inbox this morning! Nice to “read” from you again! This was a great illustration and application.
Merci,
Your gentle devotional inspired the thought that patience is a quality that is beneficial to others, not only to oneself.
Thank you for a very timely reminder of our faithful God and father.
I needed to be reminded during this seemingly long strange time in the midst of the pandemic.
Blessings.
Saranne, you draw such a clear picture of our walk with Christ – we so easily forget, we fudge on practicing, we ignore the guidelines.
You tied this all in a neat bundle, sure to resonate in my mind today.
Thanks.
How wise!
Been there, done that! Continuing to learn. Praise God for His infinite patience when I “flub” once again!
Many thanks for your reflection on patience, May God grant you rest and peace today!
Blessings
(Canada)
Greetings Saranne,
Thank you for this devotional giving us a good reminder that our Lord never gives up on us. He is ever present and watching over us. We certainly need to follow His example and be ever grateful for His loving care and concern for us. Blessings for your devotional writing.
Dear Saranne,
Thank you so much for your lovely Devotional this morning. Your message was something I really needed to hear right now.
Blessings, Joy, and Laughter,
(Canada)
Good morning Saranne,
Aren’t memories wonderful and we never know what might trigger them. I was just visiting my mother-in-law who is 95 with a friend and in our conversations both of them were stimulated to bring back good memories which they shared. Your example of patience and persistence and relating it to what God needs when he deals with us is a great reminder and a great encourager of what we need to practice each and every day with others and with ourselves. We need to remember that God understands that we are not perfect, and he gave us the Holy Spirit to help because he truly does understand. We need to use those nudges of the Holy Spirit to help us when we are with other people. Practice does improve us. Prayer does improve us. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and may you have lots of patience and persistence as you continue to be willing to volunteer and help others.
Good morning Punky,
Patience is a virtue for sure, thank you for your good devotional.
Blessings.
Helps me today, Saranne. Well-told and memorable. Thank you.