Tolerance increase

I often wonder if the handle of this blog is a bit bewildering. Now that most of my thoughts and words are consumed with child-like consumerism, my thoughts on coffee are fewer and father between posts. However, my consumption of deep, dark demitasse increases every year. After becoming a barista at the age of sixteen, my view of caffeine changed. I never wanted my tolerance level to exceed that of a healthy norm as I saw the negative side effects play out around my work place, but I cannot say the same is true for my taste tolerance. The strength of coffee needs to be higher on the charts than the average Joe (pun intended). I have no problem drinking rich, black decaffeinated coffee as my tolerance and enjoyment for the flavor quality has strengthened over time. When I was working behind the counter pouring and brewing espresso, I frequently burned my fingertips. Like a seasoned chef, I also have the benefit of strengthened temperature tolerance. My tongue and fingertips can handle burns better than others. So it goes: as our pain frequency increases, so does our tolerance because tolerance deals more with quantity than quality. Burn me once, and I may forget the pain. Burn me twice, I may not forget for a while, but burn me 162 times, and I'm likely to have a completely different definition for the word "burn."
Recently I heard a perfect parallel regarding the 162 day suspension that Alex Rodriguez underwent for his involvement in Major League Baseball's Biogenesis scandal. Rarely do sports analogies hit home with me, but our pastor mentioned this story as it relates to suffering, more specifically the length or quantity of suffering, which registered with my own story. Apparently A-Rod commented in a recent interview on the length of his suspension, noting that he would not have changed or grown the same had it just been a fifty day withdrawal. Instead, (and these are my interpretations not quotes) the 162 days was perfectly suited to recalibrate and reinforce new behaviors. In other words, had he come out of his punishment or "suffering" too soon, he may not have learned the lesson needed for permanent change. But why suffer or endure in any way if you can avoid it?
I've regularly heard people say their "pain tolerance" is low when confronted with the idea of enduring any physical pain without medication, and I used to think pain tolerance was associated with genetic predisposition. However, the extreme difference between my children with regard to pain has revised my stance. Levi and Luca have endured more physical examinations and surgical procedures than their two blue-eyed brothers, and their pain tolerance is much higher. Do we then hope for more hardship in order to increase our tolerance level? Not necessarily, but we should seek to adjust our mindset in the midst of trials.
It has taken nearly 425 days for all four of my children to simultaneously sleep through the night. Not quite a serious trial, but in the midst of sleep deprivation, your whole world can feel like a trial. I'm sure I still have many sleepless nights ahead, but thankfully there has been a massive shift in my outlook on sleep. I could share many positive side effects of sleep deprivation, which I would not have understood five hundred days ago. 
Furthermore, our tolerance levels can transform our response to value. A shower before 8:00 in the evening, or more than an hour alone in a single week equates to a pampered vacation for me. Many mothers can relate to this type of shift. What was once an expected part of daily routine becomes an unexpected form of self-indulgence. It is my hope that I can somehow maintain this tolerance level once all my children are self-sufficient.
Our "suffering" serves to solidify our wholeness, lest we return to a life of fragments. 
My little Levi continues to prove the truth of James 1:2-4, and while he still has many years of maturing ahead, I believe he could personalize these verses better than many other four year-olds he knows. It's easy to pity those around the world lacking what we enjoy and tolerating what we believe intolerable. Perhaps we need to shift our tolerance a bit in order to see their authentic joy. 

Levi's joy about going to a "big boy" class was contagious!

We have shown up every day since the first day with new bumps and bruises. All par for the course with this strong little man.

School starting means we are looking forward to fall and travel fun. Luca fit right into the size-up fashion show.

Everyone loves fall around here.

Silas has a great first week of first grade!

His kindergarten class has seemingly over prepared him, which has made our adjustment so much easier!

We love Veritas!

Due to increased mosquito population, our grape-tomato plant is about all that has thrived this garden season, due to lack of tender care. Luca and Levi are the only ones enjoying the crop with me!

My tough cookies...

My tender sweets...

We don't get to ride the big yellow bus yet, but I think this will suffice. 

Everyone seems ready for school this year, but only the two big boys get to bring lunch elsewhere.

But they still know how to crack up at our lunch table. 

Little Luca will be intubated during his bronchial scope on Tuesday. We pray his tolerance for this procedure makes it another easy and positive one. Thank you for all the prayers!

~Tolerance Buster