Dr. Helen Titilola OLOJEDE

I remember being deeply influenced by a month-long devotional on patience written by Richard F. Clarke, S.J. When I was deciding on a topic for this week's column over the weekend, that booklet with its distinctive yellow cover came to mind. This inspired me to dedicate this week's reflection and possibly the following weeks to exploring patience through the lens of this remarkable meditation.

We often hear that patience is a virtue, yet few of us truly embody it. So what does patience actually mean? At its core, patience is the willingness to bear what is difficult or unpleasant. This quality is essential for living a fulfilling life. As an ancient poet once observed, patience eases the burden of unavoidable hardships. Those who are naturally patient tend to experience life more peacefully than those who are quick-tempered and easily frustrated.

Would you describe yourself as patient? I wouldn't say I am. It's a quality I'm consciously working to develop, and I've witnessed its power to change lives. Even setting aside religious considerations, patience remains a worthwhile virtue to nurture. From a spiritual perspective, patience means voluntarily accepting, for God's glory, everything that causes natural discomfort. It enables us to withstand physical pain, financial hardship, illness, grief, loneliness, the loss of loved ones, mistreatment, false accusations, disrespect, thanklessness, harm, harassment, scorn, and being overlooked. Among all virtues, patience may be the one we require most consistently in our daily lives.

Is patience exclusively a human quality? Far from it. God Himself exemplifies patience. Scripture offers numerous instances of divine patience: he delayed the great flood for one hundred years despite humanity's pervasive corruption, deliberated before destroying wicked cities, and permitted King Saul to continue ruling for ten years after his rebellion. These Biblical accounts inspire us to show patience toward wrongdoers and to prioritise compassion over punishment. God's measured approach teaches us to act thoughtfully and deliberately in everything we undertake.

Let us finish with a prayer asking for patience.

 

“O God, Who didst crush the pride of the enemy by the long-suffering of Thine Only-begotten Son, Grant, we beseech Thee, that we may worthily recall those things which in His tender love He bore for us; and thus following His example may patiently endure all our adversities. Teach me, my Lord, to be sweet, gentle and patient in all areas of my life – in disappointments, in the thoughtlessness of others, in the insincerity of those I trusted, in the unfaithfulness of those on whom I relied. Let me forget myself so that I may enjoy the happiness of others. Amen.