PASSAGE:
The God of All Comfort
   Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows. If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort.
   We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about the hardships we suffered in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many.
( 2 Corinthians 1:3-11 )

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   It is common to hear women bemoaning their lack of patience as if it were the most difficult gift to pry from God's hand. In fact impatience stems almost solely from our exaggerated notions of what is due us. If we could but lower our estimation of the importance of our time, our plans, and our feelings, we would find ourselves almost automatically more patient.
   If we are impatient about the same things that anger God - repeated sin, inattention to His Word, social injustice - we cannot really be called impatient (as long as our opinions are expressed in love). Neither can we expect a woman to remain totally unperturbed if someone smashes into her new car. Certainly "learned patience" is not an acceptable reason for failure to discipline a rebellious child. Patience is not the same thing as resignation or the cynical attitude that always expects the worst possible outcome.
   Patience is a more positive trait. It is the ability to bear affliction, delay and interruption with calmness, perseverance and confidence in the goodness of God ( Colossians 1:11-12 ). It is inward peace as well as outward control. It is the submission of our schedules, our viewpoints, our dreams to the greater plan of God, with the conviction that He has a good reason for every delay He allows to come our way.

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ADDITIONAL SCRIPTURE READINGS:

   You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. Now we know that God's judgment against those who do such things is based on truth. So when you, a mere man, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God's judgment? Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God's kindness leads you toward repentance?
   But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God's wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed. God "will give to each person according to what he has done." To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger.
( Romans 2:1-8 )

   And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light.
( Colossians 1:10-12 )

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   Today I had a test of patience. My 3 year old lives mainly on granola bars. We are trying to get him to try new foods. Everyone says that it is our responsibility as his parents to make him eat good foods. But, he is a very strong willed child. Yesterday, he sat at the table for almost 2 hours before finally giving in and eating 4 tiny popcorn chickens. I saw it as a small victory. Then today, we sit down at a lunch of meatloaf, mashed potatoes, and corn. I asked him to take one small bite of each. He refused. I tried to force him. It didn't work. After I finally managed to get a tiny bite of potatoes into his mouth, he spit them all over me. I lost it. I spanked him and put him in his room, telling him, "you can come out when you are ready to eat your lunch."
   I wish I had handled the whole situation differently. After the frustration of the situation, I turned to God. He is always our comforter. He is always there to listen and encourage. In times of trial with a stubborn toddler, always remember, it is only a short time in your child's overall life. And, they will forgive you for losing your temper.
                              Just a thought.
                              Danielle ( nelliegirl100 )

Hello Danielle, I'm Melissa's friend Shelli.

I really enjoyed reading the top 2 posts.

When my girls were little I had some trouble with the food issue. It doesn't sound quite as severe as yours though. What I did instead of putting 4 hours into monitoring the kids when they didn't want to eat was this: When they said, "I'm full, I don't want to eat that" etc., I said ok, took the plate wrapped it in plastic and put it in the fridge. When they were hungry again, I unwrapped the plate (heated it if necessary in the microwave) and set it in front of them again. There were times that it took several tries before they would go ahead and eat it so they didn't have to see it again. That being said, it doesn't always work, I have a friend that did this and her boy didn't eat more than a bite for 2 days. But it's worth a try!