I am currently reading a short devotional book. It has a small reading each morning, something to think about, something to act upon. Small Steps for Catholic Moms has been good. A small, short something I can think about and focus on doing during the day. Except. These last few days all the readings and "actions" focus on kindness and gentleness, and speaking in a loving manner to your family (including the children), and thinking before you speak, and that's just really HARD. I don't think the authors know that I have a Delchi. And they must not know that I just need him to obey and calm down and stop wrecking things. I don't have time or energy for all this gentleness and grace. Sit and hold him? No! I would rather just dump him in his bed and be done with it, thankyouverymuch. All this to say, my patience has not been what it should be. Especially now that I'm concentrating on it.
Patience
Kay Ryan
Patience is
wider than one
once envisioned,
with ribbons
of rivers
and distant
ranges and
tasks undertaken
and finished
with modest
relish by
natives in their
native dress.
Who would
have guessed
it possible
that waiting
is sustainable -
a place with
its own harvests.
Or that in
time's fullness
the diamonds
of patience
couldn't be
distinguished
from the genuine
in brilliance
or hardness.
9 comments:
"Waiting is sustainable - a place with its own harvests."
I could think about that line alone for a lifetime. I can totally relate to this post, Kris. I must say that my perpetual lack of patience keeps me praying without ceasing. I'm convinced now that one never owns patience but must ask minute to minute that it be gifted to him or her by Christ. All that to say, I am right there with you! : )
Oy, how timely! I love this poem.
Kris -- God give you strength as you struggle this struggle we all face daily as moms and wives and ... well, humans. Ah to have patience as brilliant and hard as diamonds! Probably not today :-), but as Molly said, all things are possible with God.
patience. We sing a song about that to each other when we get impatient.
"have patience, have patience, don't be in such a hurry! when you get impatient, you only start to worry. remember! remember! that God is patient too, and think about the times when others have to wait for you."
It generally serves to annoy the impatient one.
I can completely relate - especially to this line:
"tasks undertaken
and finished"
I long for tasks to be completed - not just 'mostly done.'
you are not alone in your quest.
~Michelle
Michelle,
We sang that same song as kids! And it is really annoying when sung cheerfully by your parents. So I do it to my kids. =)
Forgive me for posting two links today; I just realized that I hadn't linked my post from last week.
I´m experiencing a bit of that patience - or lack thereof - this week with my grandson Dayton. He tries the patience, but he CAN be loving and sweet. Yesterday he drew me a loverly picture for my birthday, today he griped all the way to an errand we ALL had to go on, today he almost cried when the TV wasn´t working (me too!!), but at this moment he´s happy and laughing. Whew!
I like this poem. For me it brings to mind the concept of long-term patience-- patience over the course of a difficult phase of life. But reading it again, I see how it can also apply to the kind of patience you (try to) exercise with children. Anyway, both are very difficult. It is helpful to think of patience as something capable of producing a diamond. I love that image.
Kris,
I really enjoyed your commentary here, and the poem. I have a three-year-old who is trying my patience constantly. I want to cultivate patience as well. This poem helps me to take a deep breath and regain a little of that quiet, fertile ground.
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