Stay Calm, Jenny

Stay Calm, Jenny

Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.

Colossians 3:12

It had been an extremely busy, hectic day, and I just wanted to get home to the peace and quiet of my small house. It would be good to fix a nice dinner, sit in my recliner to eat it, and watch a little television. Then I would take a long, hot bath and crawl into bed early for a good night’s sleep. Tomorrow was Saturday, and I could sleep late. Ah.

On the way home I stopped at a small grocery store near my house to pick up a few things for dinner and the weekend. I liked the store because it had very fresh produce and was rarely crowded. But not today.

As I pushed my grocery cart around the corner and into the dairy aisle, a young mother was trying to comfort her baby, who was screaming at the top of her lungs. The mother said, “Stay calm, Jenny. Just stay calm. This won’t take too much longer.”

As I continued gathering the few items I needed, the baby continued her caterwauling, like a cat on a back fence at midnight. And the patient mother quietly said again, “Stay calm, Jenny. Just stay calm.”

This went on for a full fifteen minutes. Everyone in the store was becoming irritated at the noise level created by the baby. And I was amazed as the mother retained her cool and continued to soothe the baby with, “Stay calm, Jenny. This will be over soon. Just stay calm.”

Finally, I had to say something. So I walked up to the young mom and said, “I really admire how patient you’re being with little Jenny there.”

She looked at me with a wrinkled brow and said, “Lady, I’m Jenny.”

Father, thank you for being so patient with us as your children. We know we frustrate you sometimes with our immaturity and failures. We love you, Abba, Father. Amen.