“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” (Galatians 5:22-23, ISV)
Patience.
Ah, patience! You are my nemesis!
We prayerfully ask for God to give us patience, and he gives us opportunities to practice it.
Merriam-Webster defines patience as a “capacity, habit, or fact”. Well, I certainly have the capacity. Unfortunately, it is by no means a habit or fact in my life. That is can be a habit, however, is hope for us all that if we practice we can become patient. Like the other “fruit”, it must be cultivated.
Our attitude shapes our attitude, and our attitude shapes our behavior. Patience begins with our first thoughts of the morning. It is a decision that is made before the need arises. It is a decision that is made again and again throughout the day—carpe momento! Habit comes in making that decision frequently enough.
It is easier said than done. We all want to be patient, don’t we? I certainly don’t enjoy being impatient (and neither do the people around me enjoy my impatience). It is just clocks…. Things to do. People to see. C’mon. Hurry up. Get out of my lane!….
Breathe. Relax. Take time in the day for productive pause. Try starting out a little bit early. And give others a break—love, peace, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
Carpe momento. Be patient.