Sunday, January 23, 2011

Patience

Patience:
the quality of bearing offenses without anger or revenge;
trusting the timetable of the Lord

I so often find myself falling into impatience. I'm impatient with myself and with those around me. I can't wait for the day, the week, the [insert time frame here] to end. There are times I would prefer to sit back in my favorite chair, snuggle up in my coziest blanket and fast-forward to life's most anticipated moments. 

But what is to be gained by that? A life lived as a chain of wonderful moments has no purpose. And besides, it sounds exhausting. I was more fatigued the night my coach announced his resignation than I was the day I completed my first full marathon. Emotional highs are difficult to recover from. Honestly, I that waiting in patience is the best route to an emotional recovery.

Something is to be said of patience. It is an important aspect in healthy relationships - with others and with yourself. It is what makes monotonous times bearable, even enjoyable. And it is most certainly something that I will benefit from.

Patience is the guardian of faith, the preserver of peace, the cherisher of love, the teacher of humility; Patience governs the flesh, strengthens the spirit, sweetens the temper, stifles anger, extinguishes envy, subdues pride; she bridles the tongue, refrains the hand, tramples upon temptations, endures persecutions, consummates martyrdom; Patience produces unity in the church, loyalty in the State, harmony in families and societies; she comforts the poor and moderates the rich; she makes us humble in prosperity, cheerful in adversity, unmoved by calumny and reproach; she teaches us to forgive those who have injured us, and to be the first in asking forgiveness of those whom we have injured; she delights the faithful, and invites the unbelieving...she is beautiful in either sex and every age.
George Horne, Discourses on Several Subjects and Occasions

Patience is not passive resignation, nor is it failing to act because of our fears. Patience means active waiting and enduring. It means staying with something and doing all that we can -- working, hoping, and exercising faith; bearing hardship with fortitude, even when the desires of our hearts are delayed. Patience is not simply enduring; it is enduring well!
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Continue in Patience

Life is full of difficulties, some minor and others of a more serious nature. There seems to be an unending supply of challenges for one and all. Our problem is that we often expect instantaneous solutions to such challenges, forgetting that frequently the heavenly virtue of patience is required.
President Thomas S. Monson, Patience, A Heavenly Virtue

He that can have patience can have what he will.
Benjamin Franklin, Poor Richard's Almanack

We shall sooner have the fowl by hatching the egg than by smashing it.
Abraham Lincoln, White House speech April 11, 1865

We should learn to be patient with ourselves. Recognizing our strengths and weaknesses, we should strive to use good judgment in all of our choices and decisions, make good use of every opportunity and do our best in every task we undertake. We should not be unduly discouraged or in despair at any time when we are doing the best we can. Rather, we should be satisfied with our progress even though it may come slowly at times.
Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin, Patience, a Key to Happiness

Not without design does God write the music of our lives. Be it ours to learn the time, and not be discouraged at the rests. If we say sadly to ourselves, "There is no music in a rest," let us not forget "there is the making of music in it."
Jon Ruskin

It is my prayer that...we will courageously trust the Lord's promises and His timing; that we will act towards others with the patience and compassion we seek for ourselves; and that we will continue in patience until we are perfected.
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Continue in Patience

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