5.2.16

 
 
Devotional for Monday, May 2, 2016
“What Does Patience Mean To You?
 
 
 
 
 
 
patience and why we need it
by Dona Hake
 
 
 
 
 
 
Did you ever notice how it seems we are required to be patient at the most inopportune times?  Of course there are days that things  just seem to flow perfectly, and it seems like nothing is standing in the way of your well planned day.   But what about those days where the opportunity to remain cool, calm, collected and patient is a bit more than what you can take.   Let us look at what patience is…
 
 
 
 
 
*the quality of being patient, as the bearing of provocation, annoyance, misfortune, or pain, without complaint, loss of temper, irritation, or the like.

 

 

*an ability or willingness to suppress restlessness or annoyance when confronted with delay:

*quiet, steady perseverance; even-tempered care; diligence:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
How do you define patience?   For me I like to keep things simple for I remember things better that way.     I quickly learned over the past six years of having little Granddaughters that ten minutes can seem like an eternity.  Over and over I would share with them. “Be patient!”   But their response would be, “But Grandma, it is so hard some times!”    So I began to go over and over with them that being patient simply means :
 
 
 
 
 
 
Wait with a happy heart!
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

I remember a few years ago this conversation with my oldest Granddaughter and it still makes me chuckle when I think about it.  We were hitting a lot of traffic and it seemed like forever till we were reaching the donut shop. I began to say, “Remember! we need to be patient!…and what does patience mean?” My granddaughter said, “I know, I know, it’s waiting with a happy heart but sometimes I don’t do patience!” I have to be honest with you that when she said that I almost cracked up laughing. I love how children are just so bluntly honest at times. I just had to chuckle and I replied, “You know what? Some days I don’t do patience either.”

 
 
 
 
 
 

Let’s all be honest with ourselves… we all have those days that we do not do patience real well, and it ends up causing us to be annoyed, upset, etc… In the book of James he wrote and exhorted us in the importance of allowing patience to have it’s perfect work. I used to wonder how James could write and tell us to “Count it all joy when you fall into various tests and trials…”

 
 
 
 
 
 

James 1:2-4 The Voice

“Don’t run from tests and hardships, brothers and sisters. As difficult as they are, you will ultimately find joy in them; if you embrace them, your faith will blossom under pressure and teach you true patience as you endure. And true patience brought on by endurance will equip you to complete the long journey and cross the finish line—mature, complete, and wanting nothing. “
 
 
 

This scripture reminds me to thank God that our faith can blossom even under the pressures that may seem unpleasant. He will be faithful to teach us true patience that we can cross the finish line! So today I encourage you to be patient in all things or may I say “Wait with a happy heart!”