How Patient Are You?
I am in charge of lunch duty for our Pre-K 3 class. With little hands and fingers, much help is needed. Parents pack the children’s lunch but it still needs to be opened and straws inserted into juice boxes. I hear choruses of Miss Debbie from the whole group of children at once. Each one needs help and …they want that help NOW!
I’ve had to stop at times and ask them “How many Miss Debbie’s are there?”. They laugh and shout ONE Miss Debbie! So I ask them to raise a quiet hand. I tell them they need to learn to be patient. I will help each one of them as soon as possible. But patience is not something 3 and 4 year old children typically demonstrate.
Noah is a kindergarten child and he happened to be passing through one day when he heard my dilemma. He quietly told me that patience means to ‘wait without complaining’. I thought that was quite wise from the mouth of a five year old. His parents must have shared that definition with him. And after Noah shared that with me, our whole class can now recite the definition of patience; waiting without complaining.
But I have to ask myself that question. How patient am I? How patient are you?
Consider the following questions:
- Do you become impatient with people who don’t get to the point and ramble on?
- Do you use your cell phone when you’re in line to check out at a store?
- Do you text while your child is trying to get your attention?
- Do you lean on your horn when a driver misses the green turn signal?
- Do you pray for something and then give up when you don’t see an answer quickly?
There are times when I can identify with a few of these examples. It actually saddens me to see how many parents do not give their full attention to their child when they pick them up from school. We’ve become a society that does several things at once and has become quite impatient.
Galatians 5:22-23 says:
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.”
When I surrender and allow the Holy Spirit to be in control of my life, I am more patient.
When I allow my emotions and self to be in charge, I’m impatient.
So we have a choice.
I know I’d rather be Spirit controlled and patient. People notice and I can give God the glory. And in a world of impatient people, that stands out.
Blessings and love,
That is the definition I teach my children, and we even have a patience button they get to wear after going through a patience unit.
Oh you hit my button…I am seeing parents less involved than I ever remember…those little iphones, have truly made us an Iworld! So much is missed. Those children are small for such a short time…says this grey hair mother.
Having Benjamin in my old age has made me more aware than ever and I am trying to make sure I am patient…even now “waiting without complaining”…oh my how convicting as I look at my own circumstances.
Great post
I think Noah, the child, was a true descendant of the Noah from Genesis…who both had patience. The other in such a young state of mind understood what it meant and the latter, waited 120 days to build a boat anticipating a great flood, then had to wait some more (40 days?) while the flood was going on, only to wait another year for the water to subside. What patience!!!
I can’t imagine how you try to be fast to help out the cute kids while maintaining patience. It’s one of those things that remind me of you on Mother’s Day. I worked that day and I thought of every blogging friends with a mother’s heart (like you) in prayers.
I am still learning patience as I go through this battle at my work. It is a hard thing to learn but by doing so, we become more attentive to His leading. I think it is a must to learn “patience” as the Lord tests us sometimes because if we’re not patient now, how much more for eternity? Oh God, help us! 🙂
God bless you sister. I always enjoy hearing cute things that kids say. We can truly learn a lot from them. Like from Noah…
Debbie – Ah patience, that wonderful fruit of the spirit. I always am reminded that their is no “gift” of patience. Only fruit, which takes time to grow and develop.
What a blessing that little boy’s parents have given him in that definition of patience. Waiting without complaining. Good for them!
I love this, Debbie ~ you said it so well, and gave me much to think about. I know I am more patient with my grandchildren than I was with my own children, but I still have moments when I must learn to “wait without complaining” ~ that Noah is wise for his age, thanks to wise parents! It really is about surrendering to the Holy Spirit’s control of our lives in all aspects. The children you spend your days with are certainly blessed to have you with them, Debbie!
Powerful reminder that should be more patient with each other.
When I notice that I get impatient, I take a deep breath and try to take the focus of myself. It works most of the time, but sometimes I stand in my own way.
Ouch! Patience, the Lord is working on me with this one, especially no.1!
I am a straight to the point person with no frills, but I find it a little hard to listen, sometimes to people who like to ramble on when they could have shared something in one sentence!
I also get upset when I see parents texting on their mobile,when taking children out for a meal! Modern technology has a lot to answer for, especially when TV or PC’s are used as substitues for the company of parents.
Food for thought indeed!
Debbie,
What a great reminder that patience is one of the fruit of the spirit. It is something I need to work on, and I thank-you for the reminder that indeed it is something that God requires of me.
I wonder how often the Lord says to me, “How about your raise a patient prayer instead of clamoring for my aid.” ?
Patience. It’s rare, precious & vital. No wonder it’s a virtue.
Enjoyed this.
I have to say that I have come a long way in the patience department. I think my kids have helped me the most. LOL! I try to look them in the eye when they are talking to me even if they’ve interrupted me doing something.
Great post Debbie!
Have a lovely day.
Kim
Hi Debbie! Just wanted to drop a line and tell you that I enjoyed this post, it was a good reminder for me. It seems that our own culture fosters an attitude of impatience with being able to do so many things at once. But we need to slow down, really slow down and evaluate our actions….value people, ourselves, children, more. Thank you. Blessings, Lori