toothpaste...

During these weeks that I am at home interacting with my lovely family again I have the tiring and constant job of learning how to appreciate someone even when you don't really like them. How to see past someone's constant shortfalls and inconsiderations to anyone other than themselves and love them with a Christ-like love. How to thank God for someone's influence in your life when you find out your favorite pair of socks is dirty again when you didn't wear them, and how to do that EVERY TIME there is a situation like the proverbial "tube of toothpaste".
I have to constantly remind myself of what God must go through when watching me be selfish, inconsiderate, and impolite to Him, the creator of the universe that has and always will be trying to win my heart like whomever will be my future husband. He is the cosmic lover of my soul and I constantly disregard him. As a more..."down-to-earth"...reminder, I think of it as a training and practicing ground for when I am married. The role of a woman is not to change her man, force him to squeeze the toothpaste the same way she does, but learn how to live with someone with a different personality and giftings from the Lord and honor him...even LIKE him...irregardless.
On a slightly different note, please pray for Loren, Katherine, and I as we will be home alone for all of next week while our parents are out vacationing alone(!!!). (It was so hard to get them to go! My mom doesn't know how to take a vacation. I think she needs some more practice...) Anyway, please pray that Loren will be responsible with himself and his friends while our parents are out of town, and that my sister and I will be able to connect more...actually that we would all be able to connect more and that this won't be an opportunity for satan to thrown in some discord via irresponsibility.
Thank you all for your support!