Friday is upon us and with it another letter in the A-Z...
P is for Patience
'the capacity to accept or tolerate delay, trouble,
or suffering without getting angry or upset'
Since it's Friday and it's been a busy week and we're all running on fumes in the April A-Z Blog challenge I'm keeping it simple. Five things I've learned relating to my word of the day....
1. Patience is a quality I admire and appreciate in others, and one I want displayed in my own life too. I have always been a very patient person. The world is so noisy and demanding and impatient, and I aim to be counter cultural in this regard.
2. That being said, I'm surprised to find I have less patience for a lot of things in this season. I thought the reverse would be true. Discovering my fuse has shortened some is disheartening. Maybe it's got less to do with aging and more to do with the cranky state of the world that has strained my patience? I'm hoping that's true.
3. I want the people I love to have patience with me too. Cultivating patience helps us avoid impulsive actions and also impulsive words. When I'm patient I'm not giving control over to a person or situation that's causing stress and as a result I have the energy and clarity of mind to deal with whatever needs to be dealt with.
4. That's the goal of course, but like most things in life it takes practice. We all get plenty of it.
5. Most importantly patience leads to another p word-peace. Patience is a fruit of the Spirit....a deliberate choice to trust God's timing and leave room for Him to work. Slow to anger the way God is with me.
May you feel the peace only He can bring on this good Good Friday friends.
'Let us not grow weary in doing good, for at the proper time
we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.' Galatians 6:9
Enjoyed reading your thoughts on patience! The pastor at the church we used to attend asked us one day to raise our hands if we thought we were a patient person. Then he said to turn to someone we came to church with and ask that person if we are patient. It was a good way to demonstrate that sometimes what we tell ourselves about ourselves... isn't necessarily true. I feel like with specific areas in my life, I am getting more patient and then with some, I am less patient than ever. The latter is frustrating but like you said, it's a work in progress. We will absolutely never be perfect in this regard but we can make strides and changes. I hope you have a wonderful weekend and Easter!
ReplyDeleteI loved reading this today. Thank you for the reminder of the importance of cultivating peace. I struggle with this from time to time as well, and I have to pray when I feel myself growing short tempered. Sometimes that helps, other times I have to just be quiet so that I don't let my mood spew onto others. I hope you have a beautiful weekend, my friend, and that you get to celebrate with family and friends. Much love!
ReplyDeletePeace to you this Good Friday, Joyce.
ReplyDeleteWishing you and your sweet family a Happy Easter weekend!
ReplyDeletePatience . . .yes, please. Peace to you!!
ReplyDeleteYes, yes, yes. I ask the Holy Spirit to cover me with His fruits every morning. Patience is the one I struggle the most with. I'm getting better, I hope!! It does, indeed, bring peace!! Two good "P" words!! Cheers and have a beautiful Resurrection Day!!!
ReplyDeletePatience is something I have more of the older I get
ReplyDeleteI think I've definitely got more patient as I've got older - I think I'm more patient with the grandkids than I was with my own kids.
ReplyDeleteI have lots of patience for the kids and my grown ones too : ) It's other areas of life I'm finding I feel less patient.
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