In a minute

I find myself saying "In a minute" probably a couple hundred times a day to my kids. It started out of necessity mainly because there are 4 of them and only one of me. Then I justified it by saying that I was teaching them patience because you dont get everything you want instantly. But the more that I say it, the more I wonder if I am doing the right thing. At times I tell the boys in a minute, but I actually mean I just dont want to, so Im going to try to stall you as long as possible. This I am sure, is not fair, but I dont like to jump and run every 5 minutes because someone wants something, even though the child asking for something is not the same child that asked me for something two minutes ago. I have being thinking a lot lately about How this sounds to God. I am wondering if he is up there frusterated with me for putting off my boys requests instead of answering their needs when they are asked. I am also well aware of how impatient I am. I cant tell you how many times I have asked God for something and expect immediate results, an immediate answer, only to be told, "In a Minute". I get so frustrated with the boys when they have no patience when they throw a fit because they asked for something and they want it NOW. But how many countless times in my life have I asked God for something only to hear silence in return. While I am busy pouting because he didnt answer my prayers, I should have been considering the fact that he might have just been saying "In a Minute" instead of NO.  I have been very blessed in my life and I have proof that he has answered my prayers on many countless occasions, but during the waiting, during the period of time when I didnt see any results I was angry because he said NO instead of stopping to think about the fact that he was just saying "In a Minute". Maybe he was trying to teach me patience, maybe he needed me to suffer a little before giving me what I wanted so that I would appreciate the blessing more. Maybe he needed me to wait a minute so I would have to lean on him for comfort and strength and turn to him while I waited. I am really wondering how many times I actually turned to him while I waited. How many times did I really turn to his word for strength and guidance while I waited for his response. How much pain and time did I waste by being impatient and angry instead of just knowing that Gods timing is perfect and that everyting good comes in his own time.  I must constantly remind myself that Gods timing doesnt really follow a clock and that while he is telling me In a minute, he might be saying In a few years, your not ready yet. But now I will try to turn to his word and turn to him for strength and guidance so that maybe I can grow while I wait my minute, and maybe, just maybe He wont make me wait the full 'Minute'.

Jerimiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you, declared the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.