pa·tience
ˈpāSHəns/
noun
1. The capacity to accept or tolerate delay, trouble, or suffering without getting angry or upset.
The idea of patience has always been a trouble of mine. Ever since I was little, I wanted ice cream before dinner or to skip everybody and jump to the front of the line (I perfected this skill in third grade until I realized I wasn't clever as I thought and the teacher pulled me aside one day.)
In nightly prayers, I ask God for the one thing I have always had trouble with.
Patience.
Patience for understanding.
Patience for kindness.
Patience for love.
Patience to grow.
In today's world it is sometimes hard to figure out if patience exists. Everything is instant. Most people are out to help themselves, not to help others.
Patience isn't always about eating dessert after dinner, or dealing with rush hour traffic, it's about accepting others--to love them for their differences especially when it can be hard to get along. It's learning how to take care of yourself while others are trying to beat you down. Patience is also taking a deep breath and moving forward with your life when necessary.
There always seems to be a back and forth banter between the quotes, "The early bird gets the worm," and, "Good things come to those who wait." In my experience, they essentially mean the same thing, you just have to decide when the time is right to act. You have to be patient to wait for the morning sunlight. Yet, you also don't want to get the worm that will make you sick so you must wait for the perfect one.
Learning to be patient is no easy task. It takes much more than just letting time pass by. As I said before, I pray for patience in understanding, love, kindness, and growth. All of these coincide with each other to work effectively.
In order to grow, you need love.
In order to love, you need to be kind.
In order to be kind, you need to understand.
Once all of these are together, I have found then patience will create itself.
So be patient but don't sit back and let the world pass you by. Seize your opportunities with understanding, kindness, and love.
