Patience. Not something we are born with. Even as we enter the world, we cry, “Hey! Somebody help me out here!”
The world today moves at such a fast pace, and we expect everything to unfold at the same pace, yet it doesn’t. Ironically, the older we become, the less quickly things seem to happen at the pace we prefer.
My elementary aged kids are learning patience as they read, master multiplication facts, memorize annoying spelling words, complete book reports and on and on.
These tasks require patience with others and most importantly patience with ourselves. I like to remind my kids that adults have to be just as patient as kids. We don’t get everything we want, when we want it. We have to be patient with our jobs, our friends, our family and our community. Everything doesn’t fall into place seamlessly, every day.
I’m not sure who the originator of “Patience is a Virtue,” but it’s one phrase I keep at the forefront of my mind. Teaching my kids how to manage patience is a lifelong skill set, and one I’m continuing to teach myself again … and again.
