Pondered on the porch till mid afternoon today, the porch cooled by a summer breeze, the sun shaded by large bleached white and gray cigar smoke clouds floating in the azure blue sky. The red bellied woodpecker finally noticed the new suet in his feeders and enjoyed a breakfast feast. I was so happy to be sitting on my church pew, watching all the wondrous purple finches, cardinals, chickadees and titmice, counting my many blessings, enjoying the beautiful morning as the day was kissed awake. The raccoon trap was closed this morning but no critter inside. I’ll try again tonight.

My yard symphony late afternoon is punctuated by the pitiful meows of a stray cat we’ve been feeding on the porch. I have named the cat, Cat, and bought her a bag of cat food. She let me pet her or him, while it ate this morning. She tolerates Penelope and doesn’t run from her. Penelope likes the cat when she’s leashed but is jealous in her playpen when Cat walks by. She got a spanking for barking at Cat when she walked across the porch this morning. Chief always had a clowder of cats and Penelope loved them. Peeped out at midnight and Cat was sleeping in Penelope’s playpen. P will be furious about that!

For some unknown reason I have had tolerance and patience on my mind today. Read lots of quotes about these two words. I think the best definition of patience is this quote — “Patience is not the ability to wait, but the ability to keep a good attitude while waiting.” Don’t know why that is so hard for some people. I read this Chinese Proverb quote — “One moment of patience may ward off great disaster. One moment of impatience may ruin a whole life.” Makes me think of people who think they can beat the train at the railroad crossing, that moment of impatience takes their life. If they had just waited and not sped across the track…

I have a lot of patience. I don’t mind long red lights or waiting in line at the grocery store and often times let folks go ahead of me if I have a full buggy and they are holding just a few items. Infuriates me when customers rant at the checkout person for the long lines and their waiting. I think if we lose patience we have lost the battle. Patience helps us achieve our goals and makes living life easier. I think if you cultivate patience you have less stress.

Didn’t really know what having the “patience of Job” meant till I read the biblical story. Job lost all his children and his wealth in the span of one day. He became covered in painful sores and his wife encouraged him to give up and curse God. His friends blamed his troubles on his faith but Job patiently and tolerantly endured his hardships. He was eventually blessed by God because he was patient and persevered. God gifted him with wealth, more children, and a long life. God is tolerant and just and he is patient. Psalm 103:8 reads, “God is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in love.”

As Christians we face suffering and trials and tribulations but God wants us to remain patient and pray. God wants us to accept life’s storms without complaining, to persevere like Job, and believe in God’s promise of making things right. God blesses us with strength and peace. God blesses us because we are his children. God blesses us so that we can use our blessings to bless him. When we walk a Christian path we bless God.

“Being able to recognize and appreciate your blessings in life is a blessing.” — Angel Moreira