Impatiently Patient
Practicing Awareness of Our Impatience
Reflection By Jan Kwiatkowski
Let’s think of something to do while we’re waiting.
- Mr Rogers
My three-year-old grandson became a big brother this year. He exhibited a joy that seemed like it would burst from his entire being as he told everyone he could about his new baby brother. After a few days, the reality hit home that he would have to wait for his “not-so-instant” playmate to grow up a little. At first, he was feeling very impatient with this new awareness. Yet, with support from his parents and grandparents, he is now learning to navigate his situation and to better handle impatience meltdowns. He is learning some things to do while waiting for his baby brother to grow.
Toward the end of his song, Let’s Think of Something to Do While We’re Waiting, Mr. Rogers sings, “You know it’s really all right; in fact, it’s downright quite bright, to think of something to do that’s specific for you.” His simple song reminds us that practicing patience is an active choice and that we all need to find our specific way.
The way impatience shows up in us can teach us how to practice patience, to think of something to do to increase our ability to practice patience. Walking, breathing, journaling, getting enough sleep, taking a time out before we say something in impatience, are just some of the things we can practice. And these practices can become prayer when we invite God into our practicing. Advent reminds us that learning to practice patience takes a lifetime and yet, God is always patient with us.
Making It Personal: Did anything surprise you (or not) about how impatience shows up in you? Is there a new “something” the Spirit might be calling you to do this Advent?
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