Patience

I am not afraid to tell you that I am not the most patient person in the world. I never have been a patient person and my mom and dad would probably tell you that as well. It is something I pray about everyday and is something I am constantly working on. Of course there are certain times of the month where I am more patient than others (ladies, you know what I am talking about)!

The other day while running errands, I met my match. You know, the one that has the same problem as you and you realize, "Whoa, now she has some patience problems!" I was at the Christmas super store, aka Hobby Lobby and if you don't happen to visit there during the months of November or December, you don't know how crazy those registers can get. It was around lunch time on a Tuesday, which is even busier. (A side note...I don't have any children with me...they are all at school...I am not in a hurry!) There are 4 registers open and probably 4 people in each line. This lady comes up behind me, by herself, with a handful of items in her arms. Within seconds she rolls her eyes while saying, "I can't believe how long I have been waiting....seriously, why can't they open another register?!" To which I just smile and turn back. She continues to groan and moan....for the next 2 minutes. She announces.."Can we open another register?!" They call for another person to come up front. We are now 1 person in front of me before I check out. The new cashier asks for the next person in line and I don't move. There are people now behind me. I am fine. I am not in a hurry. I am being PATIENT. I really don't want to stand in line, but I am doing just fine. I say to someone else to go ahead. The lady behind me (being the nice lady she is) insists in front of the whole Hobby Lobby that I go up to the new cashier because I have waited the longest. I say calmly, "No thank you, I am working on my patience." I don't know if she liked that so she went to the new cashier.

Although this seems quite silly, it is something especially during this time of the year we all need to humbly work on. This is something I teach to my children everyday. "Be patient." Have a little more patient." As I walked to the car I had a smile on my face knowing not that I was the most patient person in the world, but that I was doing something I try to teach my children to live by.

A few things I have learned:
1. If you are in a hurry getting somewhere or getting something, you will not be patient in ANY circumstances.
2. If you are not organized, you will not be patient.
3. If you are tired you WILL NOT be patient.
4. If you are hungry you will probably not be patient.
5. If I don't pray about having patience most likely I will not be!

I pray that this lady was just having one of those bad days and was in a hurry, hadn't slept the night before or hadn't ate lunch or wasn't a praying mom. Maybe I taught her something by just standing there? Maybe!?