9 BRIEF INSIGHTS TO PATIENCE

Of all the many virtues, only patience has a saying associated with it – “Patience is a virtue.”

That’s bad news for patience.

Patience as a virtue is seen as a weak sister to the other virtues.

However, “have patience” is not a passive, psychological ploy to placate people plateaued on their pilgrimage to achievement.

Patience is robust. Its a heroic word, on par with “endurance” and “perseverance.”

THE VALUE OF PATIENCE

Patience is most remarkable when life is most uncomfortable.

Where do you land of the patience continuum?

“1…2…BOOM!”     1      2     3      4        5       6        7       8     9    10      “I LOVE snails!”

TODAY MATTERS

According to Father Greg Boyle, The Desert Fathers, when they were disconsolate and without hope would chant one word – not “God” or “Jesus” or “Love.” (Tattoos on the Heart, p. 159)

They would chant the word “Today.”

It kept them where they needed to be, in the moment.

Now is all we have. Today matters.

The miracle of Today is not that we could walk on water but that we could walk on the green grass of earth and not lose hope.

Patience is living in the now.

FAITH, HOPE AND LOVE

Love is Patience with others.

Hope is Patience with myself.

Faith is Patience with God.

9 INSIGHTS TO PATIENCE

1. Patience, persistence and perspiration make an unbeatable combination for success.

2. Patience is the ability to count down before you blast off.

3. Patience is the ability to embrace, without complaint, the time life takes.

4. Patience is the capacity to accept or tolerate delay, trouble, or suffering without getting angry or upset.

5. Patience is the level of endurance one can take before negativity.

6. Patience is the state of endurance under difficult circumstances.

7. Patience is persevering in the face of delay or provocation without acting on negative annoyance/anger.

8. Patience is expectantly waiting for a promise to be fulfilled.

9. “You need to persevere (‘patient endurance’) so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.” Hebrews 10:36 (NIV)

AN ACROSTIC DEFINITION

Poise

Attitude in check

Tolerance

Injuring none

Endurance

Not anxious

Composed

Even tempered

God is a God who waits. Who are you not to be?

In 12 step recovery programs they often say, “it takes what it takes.” True enough when it comes to change that matters.

APPLICATION: Which of the seeds of patience will you plant today in your life? Please leave a comment  below. Thank you.

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