I have been thinking about patience this  morning; realizing that it is only when I am stretched beyond my limit do I actually grow.  Well I am growing now, and today I have been strangely encouraged by the writings of Catherine Doherty to three women who were being woken up to the harsh reality of their calling that lay before them.
"...It should be evident to you now that [any work] is built on the foundation of your self-surrender to God, your dedication both to His ideals and to the unreserved living out of His ideals as a member of this work to which He has called you.  In a word, what all of this means for you is the entering into His Passion.  Only this will make the foundations of the house being built [the Location of our work] on the rock that is Christ.  Anything else will be built on sand.
     Yes, you are beginning to lay the first stones of that foundation.  The Lord will supply you with many more, and you will have to carry them and lay them next to the others.  Then a time will pass and a day will come when you will be able to start the structure of the house itself.  That may be even more painful.  But these are the materials that God builds of and on.  So be ready, dearly beloved.  All is well with you because all is according to God's plan so far."