Patience
--An ability or willingness to suppress restlessness or annoyance when confronted with delay; quiet, steady perseverance; even-tempered care.
As we begin the first week of Advent we focus our attention on the virtue of patience. A virtue that we see displayed in sacred scripture as we read about men and women, just like ourselves, patiently (or impatiently)waiting for God’s direct response in their lives.
*Abraham and Sarah waited for the Lord to give them a son.
*The Israelites waited for over 400 years to escape slavery.
*Esther waited for the Lord’s direction before going before the king.
*The Jewish people waited for a Messiah.
*Mary waited for the birth of her son Jesus.
*John the Baptist waited for the fulfillment of the prophecy.
*The Apostles waited for the Holy Spirit.
The list goes on and on.
The act of waiting challenges us as human beings to be patient and put our hope, in God the Father. It forces us to remember that we cannot control everything that happens in our lives so we must rely on God’s love, grace, and mercy.
This week try to “suppress restlessness or annoyance when confronted with delay” and remember that all good things promised to us will come in God’s time, not man's.
Know that you are in our prayers in a special way this Advent season . . .
Andrea, Liza, Marianne, and Mary-Jo