“But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.”

                                                                                    Romans 8:25

Gladys and Rhonda were walking along the sidewalk on their way home after church. They were talking about the meals they had planned for later that afternoon and casually discussing the morning service.

"That was a great sermon on patience," remarked Rhonda.

Gladys replied, "Yeah, but he went five minutes long."

We are an impatient people who live in an impatient world. In our “information at our fingertips, same-day shipping, microwave culture” we rarely have to wait for anything. Which is a shame. Some of the greatest lessons of life – and some of the greatest gifts in life – come as a result of waiting patiently. Of sitting with the stillness and silence so we can hear that soft, gentle voice speak to us that all is well.

Patience is a virtue. But it is also a gift from God, for in it we can glimpse eternity and the joy that will abound when time ceases to exist.

Gentle Father teach us patience and help us to find joy in the waiting. In Jesus’ name, AMEN.