Recently, I’ve had several different people in my life say the same thing to me… “You are being so much more patient (and/or nice) about this whole thing than I would be.”

The “this thing” that they are referring to is the problems I’ve run into with my tiny house and my builder.  I won’t get in to the specifics, but there has been a whole slew of issues ever since it was delivered and I have been hotel and house hopping ever since.  Considering I expected to move into it about two months ago, it’s definitely not the picture perfect way I thought it would go.

And the fact that they’re commenting on my patience is rather ironic, considering it’s never exactly been one of my virtues.  I always look for the shortest line at the grocery store, I hate sitting in traffic and if it’s late at night or raining, my dogs better make their potty trip snappy.

But with everything that’s been happening lately, I had a choice.

I could let the stress and pressure get to me and lash out in anger and frustration.  Or I could just “be still” like Psalm 46:10 says, and know that God is in control.

Sure, there are still times when the control freak in me tries to take over and figure out how to hurry up and “fix” things.  But it always comes back to two things:

Be patient.

Be calm.

After watching both of my parents deal with stress their entire lives and then both succumb to cancer at fairly early ages, I know the effect stress can have on your body.  And having dealt with health issues of my own, I know how important it is to remain calm and not take yourself or life too seriously.

But what I didn’t realize, was how my actions and attitude may be affecting others.  Of course God isn’t going to just use this experience for good in my own life, but he will use it for good in others’ lives as well.

The simple act of observing how I handle difficulties might be just what someone else needs to handle hardship in their own life.  It may even lead them to a relationship with God if they inquire where my peace or calm comes from.

It’s the same peace that God shined through me in other tough moments in my life… when I was in physical danger or when my mother was passing away before my eyes.  He put that light inside of me and He shines it into the lives that need to see it the most.

So if I happen to have to survive a few “crises” along the way as part of the plan, then so be it.