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The Virtue of Patience “… the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” Galations 5:22-23
A virtue is a special kind of habit, the habit of doing good. It takes effort and practice to become a virtuous person — learning what is good, making decisions to do what is good, and developing the will power to carry out those decisions. For Christians, virtues are rooted in our faith in God and our need for grace to become a virtuous person. Patience is a virtue, one of these special habits. Patient people are able to wait without complaining, deal with difficulties without becoming upset, and to be in charge of their emotions and impulses. The virtue of patience helps you look beyond the present, for example: • You refrain from pointing out an annoying mannerism of a friend, because you value the friendship. • You avoid making a quick decision when you are unsure of the future consequences. • Your mark on a test that you expected to ace was not great. You’re disappointed, but you realize you’ll have to work harder. Without patience, you might have harmed your relationship with your friend, made a decision that had a serious negative consequence, or made up your mind that you weren’t good at that subject and never would be. Some young people are anxious to grow up quickly, now, not later. This is where the virtue of patience is needed. Early adolescence is a time for setting goals and persevering to meet them. It is a time for friendship and new interests. It is a time for steady work on the construction project that is you. Patience is a commitment to the future.
A virtue is a special kind of habit, the habit of doing good. It takes effort and practice to become a virtuous person — learning what is good, making decisions to do what is good, and developing the will power to carry out those decisions. For Christians, virtues are rooted in our faith in God and our need for grace to become a virtuous person. Patience is a virtue, one of these special habits. Patient people are able to wait without complaining, deal with difficulties without becoming upset, and to be in charge of their emotions and impulses. The virtue of patience helps you look beyond the present, for example: • You refrain from pointing out an annoying mannerism of a friend, because you value the friendship. • You avoid making a quick decision when you are unsure of the future consequences. • Your mark on a test that you expected to ace was not great. You’re disappointed, but you realize you’ll have to work harder. Without patience, you might have harmed your relationship with your friend, made a decision that had a serious negative consequence, or made up your mind that you weren’t good at that subject and never would be. Some young people are anxious to grow up quickly, now, not later. This is where the virtue of patience is needed. Early adolescence is a time for setting goals and persevering to meet them. It is a time for friendship and new interests. It is a time for steady work on the construction project that is you. Patience is a commitment to the future.