It is amazing with what vigor and tenacity our children express their “need” for something. I want some makeup, I want to watch a certain TV show, I want these shoes. You may want them, but do you really need them? And why do you demand that, “yes, I need them and I need them now?” Oh the joys of parenting. But if we are really honest with ourselves, then we know deep down that our children aren’t the only ones who live without patience. Biblically, patience would be defined as “slow to anger,” “deliberate in our steps,” “reluctant to speak or judge hastily.” Life is too busy, there is so much going on, we don’t have time to be slow, deliberate or quiet. We need to get on with it, and get it over with. We might “want” to do that, but do we really “need” to do that? Perhaps if we had more patience, we would be calmer, we would take time before we act, and we would reserve our opinions for a time following careful consideration.

An anonymous person was once quoted as saying, “Be as patient with others as God has been patient with you.” That puts a new perspective on patience doesn’t it. What if God wasn’t very patient with you and I? Things would be bad for all of us, huh? I’d say waiting for 2,000 years is pretty good patience. Most of us don’t even like waiting two days for our Prime orders to arrive!

Tim Beck is pastor of Kenbridge United Methodist Church. His email address is revtimbeck@ gmail.com.