Especially Toward Those Who May Try Your Patience

With tender humility and quiet patience, always demonstrate gentleness and generous love toward one another, especially toward those who may try your patience. Ephesians 4:2

I am moved to recall this verse from Ephesians many, many times during the week. I must constantly remind myself: “Be patient, be patient, be patient.” Why, oh why do so many things try my patience?

I usually try to post upbeat, encouraging articles, extolling the virtues of kindness, gratitude, and love.  In this post, I am going to do the opposite. Run for the hills while there is still time. Here are five from my long list of pet peeves.

 1.  Chicken Pot Pie

This is chicken pie.

This is chicken pot pie.

Chicken pie consists of chicken, gravy and vegetables between two flaky crusts; chicken pot pie is made in a pot. It’s a chicken stew with potatoes, chicken, egg noodles, and maybe some cut up celery and shredded carrots. Both are delicious, but only one is made in a pot.

2. Lang-kiss-tur

The county that I live in is pronounced lang-kiss-tur, not laaaan-kas-tur. You say the l-a-n in Lancaster like the beginning of the word “lanky“, not the beginning of “land“. Natives of Lancaster County get pretty touchy on the subject. There are even educational posters and T-shirts available to inform tourists how to pronounce the name of the county and city like a native.

3. Hello!

If you and I are passing each other on a bike path while running or walking, chances are we will come within two feet of each other. It is common courtesy that we should acknowledge each other. Please don’t act like you don’t see me. If you are too tired to wave, a nod, a grunt, or even a smile will suffice.

One summer I encountered an older gentleman who regularly passed me on the bike path near my house every day. I was running, he was walking. After being snubbed on several occasions, I made it my mission to get him to acknowledge me. I worked on him all summer, smiling my sweetest smile and giving him a cheery wave. I wore him down. He began saying “Good morning” to me. I won!

4.  Chewing gum

Everything about it is disgusting. People cracking it, chewing it with their mouths open, and, especially, discarding it on the sidewalk make me grit my teeth. There is even a chewing gum wall in Seattle. I am not making this up. It’s a brick wall in an alley that thousands of people have stuck their used gum onto. It’s now a tourist attraction. We came upon it accidentally, while strolling around the town. It is completely repulsive. There is even a page on Wikipedia devoted to the Seattle Gum Wall.

 

5.  Group texts.

I don’t mind being included in a group text. I understand how much more convenient it is to invite six couples to a get-together with one text, rather than multiple messages. The thing that drives me crazy is all the subsequent texts. I know that my age-group peers did not grow up with cell phones, but, really? Send an individual text rather than reply to everyone. The responses can last for hours.
“We’ll be there!”
“What can we bring?”
“I’m bringing a salad.”
“We will be a little late.”
“Can we bring my sister?”
“Aaaauuuggghhh!!!”

The last one was me, driven to distraction by all the notifications on my phone.

I know that if these are the problems I have to complain about, I am fortunate beyond all measure. These, by any standards, are small potatoes. Thank you for letting me get these off my chest. Now it’s your turn. C’mon, you can tell me.

What are your pet peeves? Tell me in the comment section.

I am linking up with Char at Trekking Thru, Eclectic Evelyn for Words on Wednesday, Abounding Grace for Gracefull Tuesday, Purposeful Faith for RaRa link up, Meghan Weyerbacher for Tea and Word, Shank You Very Much for her Dream Team, Shelbee on the Edge for Spread the Kindness, Holley Gerth for Coffee for Your Heart, Reflections From Me for A Blogging Good Time, Sharing a Journey for Wellness Wednesday, Worth Beyond Rubies for her link up,Debbie at Dare 2 Hear, Random-osity for Little Things Thursdays, t’s a Small Town Life for Thankful Thursday, Crystal Storms for Heart Encouragement, and Mary Geisen Tell His Story.