"Patience is a virtue".. We've been told our whole lives by moms, grandparents, and any elder who is tried of our generations constant need for immediate response and outcome. Where did we forget the idea of patience? Has this current pandemic given us more patience or actually less?
I believe that practicing patience is key. We all have areas we can be patient and areas we are NOT. I think that many of us are good at having NEW PATIENCE- that is the kind of patience that has only applied once or twice to a new person who has not quite tested our patience prior... but MANY of us are terrible at the OLD PATIENCE- the kind of patience that has to be given again and again to maybe the same person or situation that we have already been patient for prior.
Maybe I'm wrong but the first one doesn't really count as patience if it isn't actually testing your patience. Okay. I know I've used that word a lot but, you get what I mean don't you? Where did we tell ourselves it was only okay to give grace if they don't ever make the mistake again? There is an art to being content with who you are and what you have and not allowing small things get in your way.
Here are some ways you can work on extended more patience to the world around you:
Don't "LAUNDRY BAG IT" this is my families term for bring up dirty laundry from the past and bagging it up to use against each other. Try to forgive and forget.. It will stop you from keeping track of how many times you have been patience.
PRACTICE YOUR PATIENCE with the little things... don't get irritated when your food is taking longer than expected, or when the person at check out runs to get another things, or even when the toilet paper roll is AGAIN left empty for your use.
Put yourself IN THEIR SHOES. Try to flip the situation and see how you would want some one to respond to you with patience if you were in the wrong.
PRAY for Patience.. ask God to help you not care or worry about the things on your last nerve and to shift your focus onto positive things.
As always I write for you and for myself. So as we focus on practicing patience together let's identify our troublesome areas and shoot to be more gracious and free in how we treat others. Patience is truly a virtue to be had so let's transform into more patient people together. As always if you ever need someone to talk to or have pray for you- I'm here.
Until next time- Sophia Marie