Can We Talk 2

Just Be Patient

Day 3227: September 14, 2021

Prompt: Write about patience. Do you have a favorite quote about this subject you would like to share?

         A long time ago, I learned from the Bible that patience comes from trials and tribulation. So I never prayed for patience, like some people commonly say when frustrated: "God, give me patience!" No, I figured I was patient enough. I certainly had enough tribulation.

         At this point in life, I figure I have plenty of patience for real. If you deal with kids, or drunken husbands, or financial troubles, or bosses you don't like, you just quietly develop patience. Sometimes, it's not the trials, but your learning and reasoning abilities that give you patience. Just recently, I lost my patience when my finished basement flooded. I was using the shop vacuum, when I saw my brother, who was visiting, using my good bath sheet to mop up the floor. Without thinking I yelled at him. I just exploded. As soon as I stopped, I knew I was wrong. I composed myself and then apologized. I could do a laundry on top of the clean up. It wasn't the end of the world. Just because he couldn't read my mind and didn't do it my way, I did not have to blow my lid. I care too much about him to have a problem between us. I wasn't patient that time, but caught myself and might do better if there's a next time.

         Patience can save a lot of heartache and broken relationships. It can allow children to work out their own problems instead of an adult playing general and alienating everyone. It certainly saves us some stress.