Growing in Patience

“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” (Is. 40:31). 

Cultivation of virtue will continue throughout our entire lives. This is truly a gentle sign of God’s tender love for us – His patient love for us. When we are young, we depend upon those around us for our physical well-being, and yes, this need returns in the last years. However, in the spiritual realm, our dependence on God’s love and mercy steadily increases, and over time, we learn to “wait for the Lord.” In this waiting, He renews our inner strength and gives us the ability to see the fruit of our patient endurance. 

Here are some practical examples of how we can grow in patience: 

• Refrain from complaining when something is difficult 
• Use a courteous tone of voice and speak kindly, even when you are frustrated or annoyed 
• Keep striving to do your best, even when you seem to be seeing no “results” from your efforts 
• Waiting for the opportunity to have a face-to-face conversation, as opposed to a texting conversation, which is “quicker” and “easier” 

Understand that patience is not readily attained. Quite the contrary, it is a virtue that can and should be cultivated daily. The opportunities are limitless, and if we are attentive, we can embrace them throughout the day. 

I encourage you to try and practice this virtue, as I believe the closer we get to Christmas with all the hustle and bustle, the more opportunities we will have to grow in patience.