Patience -- The Most Important and Humbling of Lessons

Sit down in front of a PC and ~CLICK~ you have just order a new outfit, vacation or a car even. Super simple, don't even have to get dressed, no cash needed, no human contact necessary.

Then enter your child home from college on break. The bathroom that the two of you share becomes an instant war zone. There are toothpaste globs hardening beside fallen out hair in the sink. The counter has a few cut-off nails sprinkled on top where the clippers still reside spread open wide and the remnants of shaving cream foam streak across the Formica. The door to the medicine cabinent is standing half-way open. You peek inside. The Q-Tips now tumble haphazardly out of the box....and the additional toothbrush stands askew against the back wall having been tossed inside.

Patience. Patience. Patience. You silently chant this one word over and over and over as you claim this mantra to keep your sanity intact.

Now consider the new cashier at your favorite grocery store. Nervous to start with. Beginning on a Saturday morning. Imagine all the faces staring at this person. And one of them is yours.
Add to this equation the woman with 42 coupons. The man who had a HUGE load in his cart who left his wallet at home which he discovers after emptying all of the contents onto the checkout belt. The screaming two-year old sitting in the cart's seat directly in front of you who happens to be the young mother's first child. Of course she is embarrassed and frustrated, trying to empty her purchases onto the belt while coping with this child all at once. Oh! And let's just add that the child starts to take off her coat and shoes and socks and throw them off....

Patience. Patience. Patience. We all need it. We all deserve it. We need to teach it. We need to appreciate it. An invisible gift. Pass it on...........