Patience Overrated? Nope.
As I pondered how to have the best and most courteous patience on a very late flight from Chicago to Phoenix, I could feel the four hour delay taking its toll on my nerves. A thunderstorm caused a lot of havoc at the airport, halting all flights and activity outside for quite a while. In fact, I found out that many of the runway employees clocked out to go home! Those who were still on the clock were left with bare minimum support. I walked over to the window and looked down at the tarmac. Trivia time for you: tarmac is short for “tarmacadam” after John Loudon McAdam, who introduced the material in 1820. I was curious, so I looked it up and thought I’d share with you.
For each airplane I could see, there was one employee doing multiple tasks: directing pilots, loading bags, unloading bags, and who knows what else. I was told that one man alone loaded 170 bags of luggage onto an airplane. Now, that is a lot of bags, and I instantly felt so sorry for him. He is likely someone’s father or son who is working harder than ever on this given day. My low supply of patience seemed to dissipate as I thought of how he must be feeling.
When we think of developing patience, it is often in terms of waiting for something or someone. Waiting for a promotion, a package to arrive, a friend to drive up for a visit, the next birthday celebration in the family, or your teenager to come home after a late school event are just a few to mention. The list goes on in the variety of places and predicaments where we wait, patiently.
Patience.
Patience is one of those necessary traits we need in order to avoid becoming overstressed or anxiously consumed with the waiting time. Often, when we are stuck in the “impatient” mode, we miss out on what is happening in the present around us.
I learned recently about a new kind of patience on the Interstate 40 for two days straight. While driving my daughter Maggie out east for a cross country move, she and I had to have a whole lot of patience driving 12-14 hour days. Another restroom break so soon?! Bad storm! Oh, wow, just keep those sweaty and nervous hands on the wheel and wait for a break in the clouds. A stop at the drug store about 20 minutes out of our way, because we forgot something. The car was having an engine concern! Driving in circles through a small town to find an auto shop was making our patience boil! We were pretty frustrated at moments. Maybe you can relate to long road trips like this.
But, that adventure was one for the memory bank. Though our patience was tested, the special moments are what we cherish today. We laughed. We cried. We sang “Mama Mia” songs every 100 miles. We conquered the drive and made it safely to our destination. Our hearts were knitted even more closely together sharing this time of emotions.
Patience.
There is one I am having a hard time with. I wonder if you have experienced this.
As I learn to patiently accept my adult children moving into their own paths (near home or far away), I confess it is sad to not have our family all together as we once did. It’s really hard. I worry about the future and if we will ever live near each other again. That is when I know God is teaching me PATIENCE IN THE PRESENT.
Sit in the present. There is so much goodness around us if we just put the glasses on. My present is looking different these days, but I’m growing fond of it: travel to new places with my husband, a Pickleball group with work friends, ladies game night with new friends, dinners with friends in our same season of life. As I ponder and plan out my days and weeks, I’ll fill it with meaningful opportunities like these.
Looking at how my children’s lives have so beautifully blossomed, I am filled with tons of joy and gratitude. I am so proud of them. They have their own struggles to work through, and may I be the parent they need me to be in the adult years. May I wait patiently for them to come to me for advice and help, and not me trying to offer my ideas and suggestions. Praying for my adult children has become a great way for me to be patient in the present.
This is my new way of patience. It’s up to me how I dress it up.
Are you in a season of patience-building? How can you be in the present? What is something new you can try? Share your ideas in the comments!!
“May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had.”
Romans 15:5
“In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice;
in the morning I lay my requests before you
and wait expectantly.”
Psalm 5:3
I bought this sign recently on a trip to Lake Tahoe. Hope it brings a chuckle and smile to you!
