2-word recipe for more patience
I went to a workshop at a women's conference years ago, on the topic of the power of prayer. During the discussion portion of the presentation, an audience member shared a story of a "lightbulb moment" she had experienced. The simple gem she shared has proven useful to me hundreds (possibly thousands) of times since.
A mom of young kids, she had been trying everything she could think of to try to have more patience with her family. She'd read articles and parenting books, watched YouTube videos, asked her mom and sisters... nothing was working. Her kids just kept getting on her nerves!
Finally, she decided to pray about it (isn't it funny how often we wait until we're at our wits' end, when a source of infinite wisdom is there all along, just waiting for us to ask?). She took her question to God, and as she sat in quiet contemplation an answer came clearly to her heart and mind. It was just 2 words:
"Love more."
At first she was highly skeptical that it could be that simple, but she was desperate enough to try it out.
It worked.
And it kept working. She said this simple choice, made over and over, changed the whole dynamic in her home.
I've experienced the same thing.
I won't claim that I practice it perfectly, but when I do remember to use it I have so much more patience and energy to tutor and mentor rather than be frustrated and drained.
Love is powerful stuff.
If you find yourself with dwindling patience -- whether in your family, work relationships, community, or the world as a whole, give this simple idea a try. I'd love to hear how it goes!
