Patience. If we look at the world around us, patience wouldn’t seem to have many followers. Everything seems to be instant; we can microwave a frozen meal in minutes, obtain thousands of dollars in credit in a matter of seconds and will even start a new relationship before we exit the old one. While the business world has seemingly built its empire on the mantra of ‘you can have it now’, personal lives tend to be rocked by the repercussions of living by it.
Looking through the archives of a popular columnist’s website, I came across a letter that got my attention. A woman, initially bragging about wining and dining the men she dated, soon began lamenting about how quickly they lost interest in her and, eventually, didn’t come around anymore. She was upset because she felt that all of her efforts were unappreciated and ultimately wasted. Being a member of Team Old Fashioned, I more than likely would have responded to her (as the columnist did) that she was doing too much too soon.
Whenever we place time and effort into something, we expect a return on our investment. One major key to being rewarded from our investments is to be wise stewards of our time and efforts by determining if who or what we are investing them in is actually worthy of them. We must think carefully about casting what is valuable at the feet of those who may not appreciate it. They could end up trampling on it.
The disappearing acts of this woman’s suitors may have been perceived as cruel, but they were necessary, at least, in my opinion, for her sake and theirs. I wonder if she received the advice and eventually appreciated their departures? I imagine they saw more desperation for their presence than a real relationship. She was no more being true to herself than she would have been to her partner in a relationship, had it had the chance to progress. Her desire was there, but her patience was lacking. I questioned if she even knew what she was working so hard for.
Letting patience have her perfect work is more than just sage advice. It wasn’t until I was in a season of waiting that I began to figure out what I really wanted in my life. It was also then that I realized some things I was trying to walk toward weren’t, in fact, what I truly desired, but what I thought would fit into my life at the time. I’m glad they were kept from me, as I wouldn’t know how to handle them at the stage of life I am in now. They more than likely wouldn’t have lasted that long. When I stuck with what I knew I wanted, only then did my pathway start to appear clearer and I could confidently move forward.
While I can’t say that patience has been a virtue I’ve always appreciated, I have learned to respect it. I believe that once you respect something, you can then work with it. Let it begin with me. - pyh
