Patience : A Cultivated Art

Seeds are very small, but they have great potential power. One of the most important seeds we can sow in our lives is the seed of patience. This seed often grows best in the rocky soil of challenge and even tribulation. It blooms beautifully when cultivated with a good attitude, hard work and daily duties. One we know who was full of patience was Jesus Christ. We who are often impatient, should not be too surprised that the seed of patience can slowly grow to perfection within us if we plant it and cultivate it.

Patience Requires Self - Control.

We cultivate patience by being slow to anger and quick to forgive. Controlling our emotions may be difficult, but we are then better able to love ourselves and other people.
The impatience that most of us feel at times is poignantly expressed by Miguel de Cervantes, a famous Spanish author ( 1547 - 1616). He has the main character of his book, Don Quixote, rushing impetuously to fight with windmills.

"As they were thus discoursing, they came in sight of some 30 - 40 windmills in that plain: and as soon as Don Quixote had spied them, he cried, Fortune directs our affairs better than we ourselves could have wished! Look yonder, friend Sancho. there are outrageous giants whom I intend to encounter and slay. What giants : asked Sancho. "Those whom thou see'ist yonder" "Pray, look better Sir, those things are no giants, but windmills" After many adventures, much trouble and severe discouragement Don Quixote finally returned home.

He portrayed Cervantes ' view of how many of us only gradually awaken to the real world around us. We may be upset with the problems of life, but those very problems may be helping us to acquire patience that will serve us well in our lives.

Cultivating patience gives us the ability to control anger, jealousy, fear, discouragement and many other emotions. It strengthens our power to love others even when it seems difficult to be compassionate. If we slow down the ' windmills' in our heads, we can see clearly that others are not our enemies.

The seed of patience can grow into beautiful creativity, blessing the lives of others. Talents, such as music, art, poetry and handcrafts were given to us to see how diligently we can develop them. This requires patience. Sometimes inward feelings of turmoil, boredom, uncertainty and yearning for meaning in life, can be healed by creative efforts. The careful qualities of good physical and mental work, the value of sharing our creativity as to brighten the lives of others, can help us to gain patience with things of value.

If we abandon these for a hurried world of pleasure and selfish gratification, we may look out for instant satisfaction that vanishes right when it seems to be in our hands. The skill of patience grows within us as we cultivate our talents.

The harvested fruits of patience include a more fulfilling life, improved relationships within our families and colleagues. I grew up with parents who were well- educated and perfectionists and never did they raise their voices and never did I see anger in them. Not because I was angelic, the opposite actually, but they could control their feelings, they loved and were a pure example of having and living the skill of patience.

Sources : RS courses of Study, Excerpts from Cervantes. Pixabay, Google images.