Patience is not one of my strong points. I want to get to places quickly. I don't want to wait for doctor's appointments. I want to get that book read today! No cooking dinner longer than a half-hour.
But I have been reading this wonderful book called The Amish Way: Patient Faith in a Perilous World. I picked it up because I am interested in the Amish people. I admire them even though I don't agree with them 100% theologically. After reading through half of the book I realize that I am more in tune with them than I thought I was. The one thing they have that I don't, though, is patience.
Patience is taught to them at a very young age. Their Sunday services are 3 hours long, yet even the youngest children sit patiently through them. They do not get instant gratification in their lives, they work for what they have and they work a long time for it. There are no microwaves, instant potatoes, or instant messaging in their lives.
This book has inspired me to try to be more patient. I am trying. I am not there yet. It has also inspired me to have both morning and evening devotions. To be still and know that He is God instead of running around like a crazy person.
I still fail at this patience thing, but at least I am making an effort. In this fast-paced world in which I live I think I would rather slow down and be more like the Amish.
I understand what you're saying. It would do me good as well. I don't think I have a patience problem...I'm not too bad...but yes, there are definitely time when I have needed to be patient and wasn't. That sounds like a really good book. I like the Amish too by the way.
ReplyDeleteI agree. Most of us could use more patience,especially with each other. It would also benefit us healthwise. I,like you, am working on this. I ask myself 'If I don't have/get/do this right now,will the world end?' No,of course not! So.....how important is it...really?
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