Ever had one of those weeks that everything goes wrong? Um, of course you have. I started out this week intending to write a happy column about joy, the next Fruit of the Spirit in the list. I tried, really I did. I tried to tell you about how my son Xander has started reading. I was going to add that I beamed with pride.

And I did! Honestly, I did!

My joy was lost this week. I had homework like you would not believe—fifteen quizzes, four exams, one paper, and eight pages of Greek homework. Yes, this was my homework. I found myself getting progressively angrier at the homework that was still left to do, the daily lessons for my children, and the piling housework.

My joy had fizzled.

I prayed that I would regain my joy and be able to articulate a beautiful, perfect picture of joy for all of you. I prayed that I would find joy in my children, in my husband, or in decorating my front yard for the fall.

Do you know what happened next?

• We canceled a trip home to see our parents.
• Groceries went UP again.
• All three of my boys needed new shoes—again.
• The car needed very expensive repairs.
• I had to steam clean my house for the second time in a month.
• My bank decided to hold a check that they always cash immediately leaving us frazzled on what bills we had paid with the assumption it would be there.

The final straw, you ask? I bombed an exam. I had finally reached my threshold and the floodgates opened. I am typically not a crier, and boy, did I cry!

The last couple of days have been relatively calmer—er, more manageable. I sat down to write my article about joy. No big surprise, the inspiration was still not there. I knew it was time for a ‘Plan B’. I carefully looked at the list and landed on longsuffering.

I looked it up in my Bible dictionary and had to smile when I read this:

Verb. …to be patient, longsuffering, to bear with,…to be long-tempered.

Patience never has been a virtue of mine.

As I thought further about this subject I knew it was the topic for this month. After all, how many of us pray in desperation and expect an answer immediately? How many times in life must we weather through trials only to find out they weren’t so bad in the long run?

There was only one issue left. How do I tie this into teaching all of you something about Autism? I must admit that once the answer came to me I felt foolish.

You see, my son Xander has been learning the basics of patience. We have made it a point to make him wait at least five minutes when he asks for something now. If his frivolous needs (in our minds) are not met with the same exuberance to comply in which the issue was presented by him then a full meltdown ensues. All of his basic needs are met daily. He does not miss a meal, he has a roof over his head, running water, electricity, a place to sleep, and clothing to wear. In order to properly teach him that anything outside those areas are not as important he sometimes must wait.

Ironic, isn’t it? You see, my Father knew what was best for me this week too. He could see the bigger picture as my basic needs were provided for and all of the things outside of those areas were not as important. He knew the bigger lessons would be in making me wait for the answers. He knew I was going to get frustrated, kick and scream, feel sorry for myself, feel overwhelmed—and impatient. He also knew it would be okay in the end.

By the way, the lessons in patience were very, very difficult in the beginning for Xander. We saw many meltdowns before he finally learned that it was okay to wait sometimes. While his patience still has much to be desired we still have time to work on it.

I need the practice anyway.

Angela DeRossett is military wife, homeschooling mother, and an advocate for autism research. She also serves as the Heart of the Matter Review Coordinator. Angela can be found blogging at Homeschooling the Chaotic Family and Memoirs of a Chaotic Mommy.