Patience

I was reading my Bible when my phone rang and as I checked it, I saw that it was "The One", this guy whom I have been infatuated to for about 3 years now. "The One" is the epitome of the character trait, patience, in my life. It took 1 year before he formally introduced himself to me at a convention, where he got my passport, snatched my mobile phone, and saved his his number. The whole thing was definitely hilarious. 


And so he called but since I was in the middle of my intense reading, I just turned my phone on silent mode, waited for him to hang up, and I sent him a message, "Doing my devotions now. Good night." Then, the idea of patience came to my mind once more.


Patience is one character trait that I am scared to learn for it means enduring something which entails waiting, waiting, and waiting for a period of time. Patience is not developed  with a blink of an eye nor could it be acquired overnight. The whole time element is something that I'm trying to avoid since I feel like there is just so many things to do; and learning this trait would require being passive every now and then.


Patience as defined by the ever-trusty  Merriam-Webster as:
1 : the ability to bear pains or trials calmly or without complaint
2 : forbearance under provocation or strain
3 : attitude of not hasty or impetuous
4 : steadfast despite opposition, difficulty, or adversity
Note the terms: bear, trials, pains, calmly, forbearance, provocation, strain, hasty, impetuous, steadfast, opposition, difficulty, adversity. These are the elements of patience. Patience would be incomplete without trials, pains, provocations, strains, arguments...oh name it, patience got all the negative stuff out here! These are the exact things why I am scared to learn the character trait, patience. I know for a fact that even though I'd reach the age of 100, I still wouldn't have perfected this trait.


In one of my random bonding sessions with my dad, we were talking about learning patience. I told him that I think I'd rather learn more about love, kindness, and all the other character traits, just not patience. Not yet at the least because it might take forever for me to learn it. Then he goes, "You are not alone. Take Abraham, for instance. Abraham was already 100 years old before he had a son. Moses patiently dealt with the Israelites as they were journeying to Canaan. Note that it took 40 years for the Israelites to reach Canaan with Joshua. Patience takes time." Thinking of all the things that they've gone through as they learned about patience makes me want to sigh out loud.


Going through life, no matter how much I hate to deal with it, patience will be demanded of me. Being a Christian, an ambassador of Christ, it is a must to exemplify patience for others see Christ in you and me. So, today, I choose to put an end to my ranting. 



Seriously now, I choose to follow for it is written:


Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him;
fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way,
over the man who carries out evil devices! - Psalm 37: 7


I waited patiently for the Lord;
he inclined to me and heard my cry. - Psalm 40:1


but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength;
they shall mount up with wings like eagles;
they shall run and not be weary;
they shall walk and not faint. - Isaiah 40:31


I will be patient in learning what PATIENCE is all about.