Patience

"Impatience looks like hurry, anxiety, rushing, nagging, irritation, reactivity; it exerts force to get what it wants, which is to speed things up....While generally having no effect on wait time, impatience cuts us off from joy and compassion while we wait. Patience, on the other hand, is the capacity to wait well. It looks like ease, trust, stillness, contentment, presence, attentiveness. It is not passive, but allows life to flow on its course and at its pace."

~Travis West, "The Sabbath Way"

I'm realizing more and more that our little daily choices towards slow living help build patience and appreciation, and my resolve grows stronger to make those intentional choices. I'm sure our time in the Solomon Islands gave us a peek into a pace marked by contentment and attentiveness. 

Katherine made her grandmother a birthday cake. A ziggurat of a carrot cake, it was moist and delicious and time-consuming.

My blush tiger tomatoes are the only type flourishing this summer. Who knows why?!? But I've had plenty to eat and to share. Sometimes I walk to a neighbor's house or to see my parents (only 3/4 of a mile away!) with a container of tomatoes. Does this take longer? Yes. Is it worth it to me to practice ease and stillness? Also yes. 

Katherine is beginning her senior year. Twenty-three years of homeschooling, and this is the last one. Talk about patience! We had no idea that our lives would flow this way, but school at home has been a beautiful gift. She'll be taking one class at the little Baptist college across the street. I'm cherishing these last months of observing Katherine learn and grow.