I have patience. Most of the time. With most people. And most always with my grandchildren. I think I can remember only one time of being the start of impatient with a granddaughter. I think she was about ten. We had gone to her favorite store(s) to do some shopping. Since it is said she is a lot like me (I look at lots of things, even carry them around with me, then put them back and walk out of the store two hours later) it was decided that I should be the one to take her on this shopping trip. Which I did gladly. However, by the time we had gotten to the fifth store and she had not purchased anything, I was getting a little weary. Not of being with her, mind you, but the fact she hadn't purchased anything in any of the previous four stores. I finally commented to her something like 'will you please just find something?'. To which she responded, "Grandma, does someone need a nap?" That cracked me up and it didn't matter anymore. I still look back on that time with fondness of memory. It was just so out of the blue and so unexpected.
Some things about patience I have learned from a book I've been going through........
Patience should be a virtue. How do we do that?
Prioritize patience as a virtue worthy of developing. Arnold Glasgow stated, "The key to everything is patience. You get the chicken by hatching the egg, not smashing it."
Understand that it takes time to build good relationships. That includes people you associate with as well as even siblings. You learn if you can trust them. When that trust is broken, you find you move slower and more cautiously to have a good relationship. Anything really worthwhile in this life takes time to build, and that's true also of relationships. Even in the best circumstances, such as when you have instant chemistry with another person, it still takes time to build that relationship and make it strong. All good relationships take time.
Each of us thinks our circumstances warrant special consideration - people should be extra patient with us. Instead, we should turn the tables; we should put ourselves in the other person's place and be extra patient with them. And some people need a lot of extra patience.
We all have heard the story......... the next time you're feeling impatient with someone who is slowing you down, think about this story:
A young woman's car stalled at a stoplight. She tried and tried to get it started, but had no luck whatsoever. The light turned green, and there she sat, angry and embarrassed, holding up traffic. The car behind her could have gone around, but instead the driver added to her frustration by laying on his horn. After another desperate attempt to get the car started, she got out and walked back to the other car. The man rolled down his window in surprise. "Tell you what," she said. "You go start my car, and I'll sit back here and honk the horn for you."
and the last point for today....
Realize that people have and create problems.
When it comes to people, there is good news, and there is bad news. The good news is that some people in your life are going to be the source of your greatest joy. The bad news is that those same people may be the cause of your greatest problems. That’s true not only at home but also at work. And the higher you climb in leadership, the more difficult the problems. When you decide to develop a relationship with another person, keep in mind that it’s a package deal. You don’t get to take only the good stuff and reject the bad. Everybody has problems, blind spots, and bad habits. Try to give others the same kind of grace you’d like to receive for your shortcomings.
Blessings!
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