Teenagers feel they have it rough and no one else does. I was not immune to that feeling. I worked on the farm, babysat about every weekend, played when allowed, but also helped care for my Aunt who lived with us during her later years.
She was special and had Downs Syndrome as we knew it. Back then many referred to it as being retarded. Oh was she ever stubborn! She would want to walk on her own back to Grandma’s home and by then, her mom (Grandma) was a lot older and incapable of caring for her. She would be 1/3 to 1/2 way down the road before we could reach her. She could move! And when you caught up with her, you had a fight on your hands. She carried a cane more for a comfort than to help her walk and she would use it if she got agitated enough!
My patience was thin at that age and you could say that bossiness a teen feels kind of took root a little stronger. As she aged and became more stubborn, my impatience grew and since I was strong enough to lift her when she became bedridden, it seemed like a burden to me to have to always be around while the others did things and went out. Of course as I grew up I realized the wrong attitude I had about her and life.
God was using me far more than I I knew! Our parents can teach us lessons growing up, but ultimately, God has His hand in everything and is the front runner of our lives. I am still a bit impatient today and if I could go back and change that attitude I would in a heartbeat. I am thankful for God’s forgiveness and grace! I work every day to be a better heart and like the thorn in Paul’s side in 2 Corinthians 12: 7-9, perhaps impatience is there so I keep reaching to the Lord. Or perhaps it is not! For He also says to be washed and change. This change is what He meant in Romans 6: 1-18. We are baptized to put away the old self and put on the new.
