Patience, patience....

It's been such a busy week that I need time to catch a breath! Last week, I needed and managed to carve out time to prepare to facilitate a retreat last Saturday....after which.......it's been 'go, go,go'. Sometimes, it is something that gets me excited....but many parts are chores as well. And great tests of patience, with people promising to deliver goods and then taking much longer than expected. The latest hiccup is the washing machine. The first set was initially sent to the wrong address - and was accepted by the resident there! Amazing thing for someone to do........When I called up to check, they realized their mistake and brought it over. Unfortunately, it was defective - water started leaking out the moment it was started! They came and checked, and had to agree that it was defective. Today, I had to go back at night to wait for the replacement - wow, those delivery men work until 10 pm at night This time, they spotted the 'defect' just by opening the door of the machine and said they couldn't give me that set - even the delivery man shook his head in disbelief when he noticed the defect in the machine tonight. It is time the manufacturer beefs up its quality control. So.....another wait......I wonder if the third set will be ok...

Tests in patience, and I was not that patient some of the time....my impatience was usually directed at the people in the sales office. .but at the same time, I got to observe the difficult job of delivery men. These men work really hard and are actually at high risk for back problems. I am grateful that those I came across these past few days have been very helpful. They have a physically demanding, monotonous job and it would be easy to be unhappy and curt, but they manage to keep their cool. Patience, patience....love is patient, love is kind........ easier to remember to be patient and 'long suffering' (second defective washing machine to be sent!!) and appreciative when I take notice of other people as fellow human beings....