“Patience is not simply the ability to wait – it’s how we behave while we’re waiting.”
~Joyce Meyer~
Do you have patience while waiting in line?
At the grocery store?
Buying a concert or theater ticket?
Stuck in rush-hour traffic or at the DMV?
Ladies…the overly busy restroom?
It’s okay if your answer is no, I don’t always have patience either.
There are days when I don’t behave well while waiting – participating in the sucking-of-teeth thing, followed by a deep sigh and rolling of the eyes. It’s a form of impatient exercise, burning too much energy at a time when I’m not really in a hurry (apart from when I have to pee really bad).
I’m not going to talk about the driving impatience as it can be embarrassing and I’m usually thankful no one f#@!*^g heard me.
Patient behavior is an attribute that I embrace 100%, but fail at practicing somewhat less.
This past Sunday, one of our pastors talked about having patience, showing reverence to the image of God – which is you and me and all people. It doesn’t matter if it’s the elderly man in the checkout line counting out his change or the driver who actually obeys the speed limit regardless of the line of cars behind her. As a Christian, God calls me to embody his character, be slow to anger and have patience.
Patience waiting in line and with people.
Honestly, I keep trying. I do. Every day.
Patient behavior is not easy, but it’s definitely less stressful and a plus for spiritual health.
And I am far less likely to strain myself with strenuous teeth sucking and eye rolling.
This post has been brought to you by patient waiting and Linda Hill’s One-Liner Wednesday. If you are wondering what One-Liner Wednesday is all about, CLICK HERE.
Linda G. Hill is the Queen of One-Liners and rules over her kingdom of followers. Check out today’s post and commit yourself to join the Queen’s one-liner army because there’s no fighting or blood, only comradery and fun with words.
Mary J Melange 
This is definitely a topic most folks can relate to. I wait patiently in retail lines, but when I have a choice like at a restaurant, I choose ‘no’ and move on to another option. 🙂
I agree Judy. I have often left a restaurant when the hostess tells me it will be a 45 minute wait. They should serve snacks to people who have to wait that long.
Yeaaaah – waiting is not my strong suit. I admit I’m an instant gratification kind of person and that also applies to the flow of traffic, the timing of green lights, and the speed of the checkout line.
I will say however that dealing with my elderly mom in her last few years has greatly influenced how I feel generally about the elderly. Or maybe that’s just because I’m quickly becoming one myself.
I appreciate better the effort required to get in and out of cars, maneuver stairs, and simply walk from point A to point B. In fact, kudos to all those who still can.
I appreciate that stiff hands and fingers that may have lost some or all feeling make it difficult to pick up things like money or a credit card. Doing it under the impatient scrutiny of a grocery store checkout line doesn’t make it easier.
These people deserve and get my respect, not my impatience.
And immigrants. I live in an area with a very high percentage of immigrants. I’ve travelled a lot and know the feeling of not speaking the language, struggling with foreign money, and being unable to read signs. I too have had to hold out a handful of change and let the cashier select the required payment.
These people also get a healthy dosage of my patience.
hmmm – I guess I might be more patient than I thought. Funny how empathy works.
Sorry for the long comment …. I must be feeling wordy today.
I like your wordiness, Joanne! You have a personal understanding of what it means to be elderly or an immigrant who has a difficult time navigating small things, like counting change. Empathy does instill patience, except that like you, I have no empathy for red lights.
I also learned much from mom and dad in their later years and patience had to be one of the lessons. It was a must, especially on shopping day. 🙂
Oh yes – you would have had special lessons in patience with the elderly.
But red lights? Have you ever noticed you never get a red light when you really want one?
True! When I actually want to stop at a red light, it never cooperates. Maybe that’s the key…we have to start hoping for a red light when we actually want green. 😏
You mean the George Costanza factor 😆
😁Yes😁
I am generally patient with people in lines. I’m patient with medical folks, waitstaff and situations like that. I am not patient in traffic, especially if I’m driving alone. I will get off the highway and go the much much longer back way, just to keep moving.
Being patient is a very good goal to have. I’m making an effort.
I hope you have a great holiday!
I like your alternative driving plan, Dan. I’ve done that too, but sometimes I don’t realize there is a traffic jam on the highway until I’ve passed the last exit for
I hate when that happens!
Sorry, fat fingers. I meant to finish “for several miles.”
I’m trying to be more patient in all situations, but driving is the worst for me. Not sure why I get so anxious to keep moving, especially when I don’t have to be somewhere.
Have a wonderful Fourth, Dan.
I think it’s the confinement. You really can’t escape your car, and you can’t improve your situation.
Joyce Meyer is one of Mary’s favorites. She does a great job of breaking down tough theological concepts into practical, concrete examples.
I agree with your Mary. Joyce is pretty awesome.
Patience is a work in progress. Having worked in a (phone) customer service department I try extremely hard to be patient with those people since it’s always a shock to be sure someone’s gonna ream you out but they end up thanking you for your help instead. Sometimes I think I’m doing really well and then BAM! things like drivers ed and the DMV knock my feet out from under me. Sheesh.
It appears that the driving and DMV thing tries our patience most often, Laura. I have much admiration and sympathy for those who do phone customer service. I’m sure it can be both rewarding and frustrating.
As long as I’m not late and have tunes on being stuck in traffic doesn’t bother me. I’m ok with lines too because it gives me time to chit chat. Apparently my dancing or singing while patiently waiting is embarrassing. Oh well.
I would join you, singing and dancing in line, as long as the men in white coats don’t come to take us away. 😉
The men in white coats should join us! lol 🙂
I’m actually really good at the waiting thing except when someone pushes in or when I’m stuck behind a car going 15km/h under the speed limit.
In shopping centre carparks at Christmas time when finding a park can be an exercise in futility, I’m super calm and generous, letting others go ahead, etc and I always get a good park, like right outside the door or under some shade. Patience can be a convenient virtue.
I’ll have to remember this virtue when Christmas rolls aroung again, except I’ll be looking for sunny, snow-free spots instead of shade. Last night was a test after Fourth of July fireworks, getting out of the parking lot, but I passed. We made it out in far less time than last year.
Seriously, it works. The more patient and generous you are, the more you are rewarded.
That gives me a reason to continue practicing!
I’ve learned to be patient in line, or find a different line if I can’t be. The lesson on patience came when I lost mine with my mom during the early signs of her dementia. Now I always remember that the person taking their time to count their change, or to process a transaction and make sure their cash is just right in their pocketbook, or asking too many questions, or wanting the checkout person to count the change, just maybe a person with dementia who deserves our patience. Thank you for the reminder to be patient!
Having our experiences with dementia is a forever lesson in patience with the elderly and with people in general, Shelley. I hope others practice it when we’re that age.
Me, too, Mary, me too!
Mary J, you’re so right about the behavior of patience. I hadn’t really thought about that part. But now I realize that when I force my body to act patient (have a more relaxed posture, etc), then it is easier to actually be patient.
I hope you’re having a wonderful holiday weekend, and that everything is so good there’s no need to exercise that patience! 😀 Hugs.
I’ve been pretty patient this weekend, Teagan, but noticing several drivers who are not. Silly people! Made me chuckle…
I hope you are also having a grand weekend and enjoying the summer. Hugs back.
Great thought-provoking post! Over the years I’ve learnt to try and put myself in others’ shoes and that helps my patient behaviour. The old man isn’t taking his time at the checkout, he NEEDS that time, and one day it will be us. The impatient driver may have just made their only mistake in 30 years of driving. Waiting for a bus which the driver is doing his best to keep on time, despite difficult traffic conditions. My patient behaviour falls by the wayside if I feel it’s down to poor planning, lack of care, or incompetence on someone’s part!
Thank you for your positive comments! It’s important that we remember everyone has a story and reason for starting a line and that we respect those reasons when valid.
I’m going to tell you a thing — I am a very patient person in most situations. Especially in traffic and in lines.
I am a fast person. I do things with haste and I long ago realized the world does not move at my pace. I deeply appreciate the other fast people, but we’re outnumbered and so the eye-rolling and tongue-clucking doesn’t help. Also, ain’t nobody gettin faster as we age.
I go out into the world with the mindset of what interesting things will happen, who will I meet, what stories will I hear or imagine? — I arrive observant, in the mode of wonder, I stand in the aisle and wait my turn, I take my number and people watch.
However, when I have, on rare occasions, announced, THE LORD WAS TESTING MY PATIENCE! it was me. My fault. Me. Stressed about something else. Stressed I didn’t do x sooner, or that y is waiting, or worried I’ll be late to z. It’s 100% attitude. Keeps me humble. Keeps me in check.
You have a terrific mindset, Joey. I shall remember to stop, breathe and people watch the next time impatience strikes while standing in a line. It’s true that impatience is often of my own doing – running late, stressed about something, forgetting I have nowhere to be at the moment – and that is silly. Been amping up the yoga and exercise again and I think that’s helping with patience because I’ve been too tired and relaxed to be otherwise. 😉
HAHA!