Tag Archives: waiting

Patience–A Poem

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PATIENCE
©Tami Brumbaugh

Still waiting.
How long has it been?
I’m restless,
Longing for resolution.
Trapped on a vague journey
With the Road stretching endlessly before me
More of the same behind.
Patience.
I need it, but the unknown
Seeps like fog over the windows
Obscuring my view.
I fidget, trying to make sense of it all.
My sleeve swipes the glass,
But still the future is unclear.
Why doesn’t the map direct my way?
Where is the crisp British voice
Mispronouncing street names,
But telling me turns to make.
I inspect my rearview mirror.
It’s exploding with past expectations and errors,
And can’t be adjusted.
The future and past swirl,
Forcing bouts of car-sickness.
Patience.
I should display it, but instead
I hoist myself into the driver’s seat
And accelerate
Hoping to reach my destination more rapidly.
The scenery barely changes
Mile markers show time passing
But I’m no closer to my goal.
No more.
I yank on the wheel
And jab random buttons on the dashboard.
The car careens through detours and wrong turns and plunges into a ditch.
You let me rant and flail my arms
Until exhausted I crawl back into the passenger side
And buckle the seat belt.
Bruised.
Exhausted.
With skilled hands You guide the car back onto the Road.
No reprimands.
No truckload of guilt.
I wait hopefully,
Curious to see where You drive.
I tighten the seat belt to restrain my arms
So I can focus on enjoying You and the ride.
Your deep, quiet voice
Soothes my soul.
Have you been talking all along?
The side windows clear,
Revealing other drivers,
Pedestrians strolling on sidewalks,
Maple branches swaying,
Clouds drifting in pastel-painted skies.
Resolution will come in time.
Until then I will trust.
I will lean back in my seat and practice
Patience.

Promoting Patience

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Often just telling kids what we want them to learn goes in one ear and out the other. (Let’s be honest—it sometimes works that way for adults too—at least it does for me.) So here are a couple of helpful ways to get the patience concept stuck in the minds of our children.

Have your children bake a dessert with you. This activity opens up all sorts of patience discussion opportunities. If you choose to bake something with fruit (like an apple pie), you can talk about having to wait for fruit to ripen and what it tastes like if you are impatient and pick it too early. If your kids are not fans of desserts with fruit, then try baking cookies or something else they love. The idea is to create something they really want that requires steps to make and time to cook.

While your child helps you measure and mix, you can ask questions relating to patience. Why should we take the time to find the correct measuring cups or spoons? Why do we need to mix the batter or dough as long as we are told? What would happen if we didn’t wait for the oven to preheat?

Pull up chairs in front of the oven and turn on the oven’s light. Watch the dessert bake (unless it is a pie or dessert that takes far too long) and sing the chorus of the patience song I mentioned several blogs ago. (Here’s the link to the song if you need it.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9kn6Z2Mop5I )

Discuss what would happen if we grew impatient and pulled out the dessert before the timer went off. Be sure to mention that if we are impatient and get frustrated while something bakes, it does not speed up the baking process. Tie your questions and discussion to your child’s life.

Another tool for teaching patience is a book I wrote several years ago when my kids were curious about the exoskeletons they found clinging to trees. After doing research, I learned that the exoskeletons belonged to the magi cicadas, which burrow underground for seventeen years. I knew they were perfect for a book about patience. You can find it on my website (www.TamiBrumbaugh.com ) or Buy it on Amazon.Paeshunt_sm

Description:  Burrow underground for seventeen years? A cicada named Paeshunt rejects the notion. He has the world to explore and bugs to see, and he wants to do it now. Several narrow escapes force him to examine his impulsive plan. With the help of his friends, he learns that life is much safer and sweeter when he is patient.