Why is Patience a Virtue

Top of the weekend my friends! Why is Patience a Virtue?

Did you ever wonder about that? I did!! This is what I found. To start it’s one of the Heavenly Virtues, a counterpart of the 7 deadly sins!

Which was formally enumerated by Pope Gregory I (the Great) in the 6th century and elaborated in the 13th century by St. Thomas Aquinas,

They are (1) humility, (2) charity, (3) chastity, (4) gratitude, (5) temperance, (6) patience, and (7) diligence. You’ll need all of those abilities while you wait. Please do not act impetuously. Even though, we are always anxious about getting what we want. Patience is a Virtue!

Risen motherhood.com  referred to it as an attitude of the heart that is divinely given to us by the Spirit. May I reiterate the fruit of the Spirit is… patience.

Remember when that “something” you really wanted captivated your thoughts daily. Not only would that “desire” happen so regularly but unconsciously often marinated your being.

So much so a slip of the tongue, left you a bit startled maybe even embarrassed.

Sadly some of us even coveted a "whine" before it’s time. A interesting display of regret.  Since  you misread the tea leaves. Remember it didn’t turn out like you thought. Ouch!!

You mean to tell me I did that to myself? Nothing like a splash of self-alienation.  Is it?

As the Pastor would say “I’m preaching to the choir”. For we all fall short and can relate to that forbearance in the book of life. Even the “Britannica” shares the fact “Waiting attentively involves discerning”. Waiting is a good thing!

As Jack Nicholson said “in the movie  “A Few Good Men” (don’t miss that) You Can’t Handle the Truth”!  Patience is a Virtue!

My reason for today’s figure of speech is deeply personal. Since January (1st) first I haven’t run a red light or sped up to beat the yellow ones. (Okay 95%) Part of my goal was to embrace “patience”. I confess this can be a complicated game.

My biggest and hardest test came from two really slow traffic lights. The first right at the very beginning of this quest. It was during the winter in Oak Cliff. (Westmoreland and Wheatland roads in Oak Cliff) The second happened last Monday morning in North Arlington (on the UTA campus). Both lights malfunctioned.  Patience is a Virtue!

I waited 5 minutes for the light to change in Oak Cliff. However just when I decided to run the light (after 5 minuets and 30 sec of wait) it changed. My perfect record was still in tact. Then last Monday (10 months later). Came my second test another malfunctioning Traffic light. I waited. This time, when I got to the 5 minute mark I really struggled. My perfect record was about to end. Cars behind me was whizzing around me because of this malfunctioning traffic light. Finally right at about 7 minutes I couldn’t take it any longer. I ran the malfunctioning red light.

Later that night I shared my tale of woe with my Bible study brothers. One of them said “you waited long enough”. I accepted his empathy but my response was "No I didn’t. I followed the crowd and did what everybody else did.  It just took me longer to do it.

Recognize, if you do what everybody else does. You’ll get what everybody else gets.

There’s still a kernel of truth in the adage “Good things come to those that wait”! Patience is a Virtue! Donut leave home without it!