Monday, April 25, 2011

Patience or the lack thereof

I'm not known for having much patience. Just ask my husband and children! They will tell you, well at least the husband would. What are some things that I don't have patience for you ask? Well, I'll tell you!

The first thing that I don't have patience for is crying children in a movie theater. One time J and I were at a movie (before we had kids) and a baby in front of us started to fuss. Now, I can understand a little fussing but this lady would NOT leave the theater. The baby squawked for a good 10 minutes before she finally took him out! I couldn't pay attention to the movie which I paid a good amount for. I got so flustered that I actually expressed my frustrations out loud. I don't know if she heard me or not but J was horrified. He was so embarrassed of my actions but I couldn't help it. I've tried to be better. Once we had children, I made the decision that I wouldn't take my children to the theater with me. P didn't attend his first movie until he was 4-years-old. I wanted to make sure that he'd be able to sit still for the entire movie and not make a scene. Luckily, he did amazingly well ..... it helped that it was the cartoon Toy Story 3 as well!

Another thing I don't have patience for is bad drivers. I will openly admit that I have road rage. I don't get to the point that I'd pull a gun on someone or anything but I can get pretty heated. I try to keep somewhat cool and collected while the kids are in the car but sometimes I blow my top and yell. I can't stand when people are too busy looking at their phones to realize that the light turned green. I get pretty hot and bothered when people drive under the speed limit or if they don't use their turn signals. I think that I've gotten a little better since I've had kids ... hopefully.

I think I'll share one more. It isn't necessarily the last but I'll spare you all the rest. In my church, on the first Sunday of the month, we church members are given an opportunity to bear our testimony. I was always taught that we are to bear our testimony about our Savior. Some people choose to use the time to express their appreciation for friends (which can be okay), some people get up there and give travelogues of their family vacation, and some people get up there and talk about their health problems. I understand that people like to share but I, personally, feel that it is a time to express our love for and our belief in our Savior. J gets embarrassed of me because sometimes I get grumpy. I would never ever say anything to these people but I sometimes can't sit there. I feel bad but I get so flustered that I sometimes I have to leave and "get a drink" or "use the restroom."

I hope this doesn't offend anyone. It certainly wasn't my intent. I just started to think about patience and realized that I really don't have much of it! Hopefully I can work on that. What do you have patience for or what do you not have patience for?

7 comments:

Unknown said...

kjerstin, usually when I start to get that feeling about testimony meetings . . . which is almost every month . . . what happens is I end up getting up and bearing my own testimony. I'm a firm believer in the fact if you aren't participating to make something better you have no right to complain about it. So I'm a testimony meeting activist. I end up bearing my testimony all together too much, but I always end up feeling better afterwards.

Oh and I HATE to go to movies because everyone is SO LOUD!! I just prefer to not go.

I get bugged easy, too :-)c

Unknown said...

Careful there honey, sounds kinda like you were describing your Daddy!

The Augers said...

I totally agree with the testimony thing! It drives me nuts when people give 'thankamonies'. In fact, I stopped going to early morning testimony meetings for seminary in high school because I just couldn't handle the 'I'm thankful for this friend, and this friend...' and on and on and all the crying that went with it.

I am finding that I've been getting more patient in my old age. And having Rigden has definitely taught me a great deal of patience.

My mom once told me something that helped me. She said you might not feel like a patient person on the inside, but it's what you actually do on the outside that matters. A lot of times I am so frustrated in my mind, but if I don't let my frustration control my actions and do my best to act patiently, then that IS being patient. :)

Jodi said...

My patience has definately gotten better over the years through trials and kids, but I still have a LONG way to go!

I agree about testimony meeting. It can really get out of hand! My mission president used to warn us against bearing a "thankamony," saying all the things we are thankful for - he said that should be reserved for our personal prayers. He always stressed bearing a "testimony"-"testifying" about what we know is true and that's when the Holy Ghost can bear witness of the truth. He did say too that it was okay to share a spiritual experience that brought you to the knowledge of what you were testifying of but that's about it. I try to remember that and I think the best thing to do is to be sincere. Maybe the more we do that, the more others will catch on!:)

Unknown said...

Yup, we're pretty much the same person. Although, I don't mind the testimony meeting stuff. I've learned that the other is somehow tied to their faith and love in the Lord. But I don't remember the last time I was able to sit through a Fast and Testimony meeting because I had to be in the hall with a kid or two. lol!

K Lind said...

Kjerstin, this is your hubby, your more patient than you give yourself credit. You married me didn't you. :) Love you dear, and yes you are a lot better than you used to be.

Heidi said...

I'm totally laughing about your testimony comment because it made me remember the singles ward, where there were always those people that would get up and say "It's been a really hard couple of weeks..." and immediately start bawling and confessing their deepest darkest sins to all. Good times... good times. I used to get out the hymn book and focus really hard on reading it during those.

I'm glad to know your driving pet peeves as well - I'll be on my best behavior if I see you on the road - don't want you to bust a cap in my tire! ;)