I love when I speak about patience and I hear “I’m not good at that.” (Even priests)  That’s the point.  As if it’s funny to resolve ourselves to not being patient and let others be patient.  Funny enough, “Patience moves, not force.”  Interesting thought: Patience moves, not force.  When we try to force something, someone or ourselves, we’re met with obstacles, friction and resistance.  It doesn’t go smoothly.  It can go the wrong way.  Maybe it works, but maybe does more harm than good.  Forcing something by nature isn’t natural.  It is forceful, oppressive, abrasive and frustrated.  Persons can get hurt in the process of results.  We can’t force anything before its ready.  Instead, something that happens in God’s timing, falls right into place by His grace.  So, patience moves, not force with ourselves, anything or anyone else.  God doesn’t force.  Why do we think we can?

       We all want to be better than we are.  We all want to be farther than where we’re at.  We want things to work out before they do.  Hope is trusting it will, but without patience, hope dwindles.  If we lose patience with ourselves, we can get discouraged, ashamed, frustrated, even angry with ourselves.  None of these help us and are from the enemy.  Instead be patient and be present as you do your best.  Want to grow, keep trying, stay hopeful and keep never giving up.  If so, you will allow yourself to change slowly with God’s help.  Be patient, painfully patient, with others.  We don’t what’s going on within them, how they are trying or what they are doing right.  We don’t know their woundedness, what is holding them back or how the enemy is working against them.  When someone feels they’re being forced, they feel judged or condemned.  When we are patient with a person, they sense they can trust us, which makes them more open.  Love is honest and love challenges, but love never makes them doubt themselves for not being better than they are.  So it is with Jesus.  Patience says “I trust You.”  We trust His goodness, His constancy, His mercy, His plan and timing for each of us.  Subsequently when we choose patience, letting ourselves be drawn forward by remaining still, The Lord can slowly lead us into finding exactly the right words to say or finding we didn’t need to say anything.  We can be led right up to the right moment to step into the right decision or find He was working all along to make it happen for us.  St Therese said “Being patient with one’s imperfections leads to holiness, the source of our peace.”  Patience, through faith, is an act of love towards ourselves, others and most of all to God.