patience

Patience is a virtue that takes substantial time and experience to learn. No one is born patient -- just observe a hungry newborn to prove the point. Some take pride in their lack of patience, as if doing so demonstrates the "fullness" of their lives and their own abilities. "I have no patience for depressed, whinny people (because my life is full of excitement, unlike that fellow over there)", or "I have no patience to wait for the Lord (because I can do things better and faster my way)." What they fail to understand is that patience is not quiet, painful acceptance of an unfulfilled life, but is instead the wisdom to wait for the arrival of something much better, something they can already see with the eyes of faith. A farmer tirelessly fulfills his duty in caring for his farm, and has faith that when the time comes, he will harvest abundantly. Should he think that when summer comes the farm will still be covered with unbroken seeds, he would not labor so patiently. In the same way, patient endurance of trials results in a stronger person who is not only able to comfort those who are undergoing the same situation, but is also ready to receive rewards that are beyond human imagination. The rewards that such person receives come in many forms, but none as valuable as the character that he has now acquired and the approval of his Maker. Therefore, "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)