The Gift of Patience

I am always in a hurry. One day last week I made an effort to take my time and when I did a funny thing happened. As I was chiding Kade a phrase came to mind: “the gift of patience.” Now normally when I think of patience I am asking the Lord to give me loads of it. Give me the patience to deal with them, Lord. . . .Lord, give me the patience to wait for them. I frequently find myself asking God to give me the gift of patience, but I do not think this is the way it is supposed to work.

So I looked it up and sure enough James explained it. “The trying of your faith worketh patience (James1:3).” Then he goes on to say that God gives wisdom to those that ask for God “giveth to all men liberally and upbraideth not (1:5).”

If that’s the case why am I continually “out of patience” with my children? Then it hit me. God has given me patience liberally – just as James said He would. When I doubt Him, He is patient with me. When I don’t have time, He is patient. When I stray, He is patient. He doesn’t snap at me or tell me to hurry up. God has given me the gift of patience. Every day, He is patient and forgiving of my failings.

I have been going about it all wrong. Instead of wanting to get patience when my children try me, I should be giving patience. God has given it to me liberally. Now, I need to give my children the same gift of patience which the Father has given to me.

This has become my mantra. When I am in a hurry or the children are being slow, I tell myself “Give them the gift of patience.” I relax, slow down, and sure enough we get where we are going - sooner or later.