Patience, ~ The quality of being patient, as the bearing of provocation, annoyance, misfortune, or pain, without complaint, loss of temper, irritation, or the like.
Brooklyn is not yet at that age where impatience is big a problem. She just takes things as they come and enjoys the benefits of them. She is still too young to recognize the needs of others or that waiting is an inevitable part of life. As she grows though, she will eventually have to deal with impatience. Some of the first lessons we learn as children is how to wait! Waiting and self-control are two basic requirements for little ones. Learning and practicing patience early helps our little ones with relationships and social skills. But…why then, is it so hard for us as adults to learn and practice patience?
How do we respond to delays in God’s promises? With calm acceptance, or annoyance and disbelief? Each time we feel impatient about a situation, we must remember…this is an opportunity to choose a mature response, OR. Act like a spoiled child.
Why do we need patience?
~ To maintain healthy relationships, protection from foolish choices, stability, prayer and endurance during difficult times.
During these difficult times, God is working for our good, stretching our faith and molding us into the likeness of His Son. If God provided everything for us instantly, there would be no reason to walk in faith. The path of obedience is not always easy. To say yes to God, can very well mean saying no to what we want. The only way we can receive the full benefits of what God has for us is to trust Him through the delay and wait patiently for Him to act on our behalf.
We will never find lasting security in anything of this world, but we can completely trust in the Lord’s plans and rely on His promises.
So beyond modeling patience for Brooklyn and Gabriel as he grows, maybe I could help teach them patience with a garden or a flower-pot. Involve them in the process of planting the seeds, caring for it and watching it grow. As they observe these changes they see that everything in life takes time to happen.
We must trust God when he puts us in the “waiting room” – He knows what He’s doing.
Knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. James 1:3-5
