Patience Is a Virtue

If you have access to a computer (helpful hint: you do if you are reading this), then you have more than likely heard one of the many impressive Chuck Norris factoids. They are simple statements depicting the epic-ness that Mr. Norris epitomizes. I have a folder with the following fact: Chuck Norris beat the sun in a staring contest. I believe Chuck to be even more amazing after completing his book, "Against All Odds," last year. Not only is he a fighting god, he is also pretty quote worthy. In his book, detailing the struggles he faced to obtain his current star status, he says something that really struck a chord with me. Chuck eloquently states, "More and more I was beginning to realize that the rewarding part of life is the journey, not the destination." This sentiment relates directly to my lifelong struggle with patience.

Patience is something I lack in great depths. I have often prayed to God in the past to give me more patience until I realized the methods He planned on using and have since then prayed less frequently for such fun times (Note the sarcasm here). Don't get me wrong, I definitely need to have more patience in my life and appreciate the results of perseverance. Sometimes I get distracted by the difficulty of the journey and get too focused on the destination. Chuck's quote resonated with me because the journey is the rewarding part and I took a long time to realize that truth.

Over the past two weeks I have been fairly sick with a virus and unable to be my normal, active self. This downtime has forced me to think more indepthly about my current state of affairs. As a little girl I just knew that at age twenty-five I would be happily married to a great man with my first child on the way. Now, at that same age, I am unmarried and child free. It is hard to watch a dream pass by without some remorse. Arthur Koestler puts it best, "Nothing is more sad than the death of an illusion." Although, I am not in my idyllic lifestyle I cannot be discouraged because the words of Chuck remain true. I have experienced so many wonderful moments that would not have been possible in my initial life plan. These experiences have also helped to better prepare me to be a better wife and mother in the future.

James is one of my favorite books of the Bible because it deals with patience as a theme of its first chapter. "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything," James 1:2-4 summarizes what patience achieves. Another verse relative to this topic that I find encouraging is 2 Corinthians 4:16-18, "Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."

I can't breach the topic of patience without mentioning my favorite quote of all time. Mother Teresa was a great woman and I really admire her. I try to live by her words, "Let nothing perturb you, nothing frighten you. All things pass. God does not change. Patience achieves everything." I think the wise nun hit the nail on the head with that one. So with Chuck Norris on one shoulder and Mother Teresa on the other, I plan to enjoy the journey life brings. I might even gain a little patience along the way.