Patience In the Community
vs. restlessness
Taking the time necessary to work through a difficult situation
To practice Patience, I will:
- change the things I can change and accept the things I cannot
- keep trying until I succeed
- make the most of my wait time
- not interrupt
- not complain during delays
Checking Into our Internal Devices
by Mary Andres Russell
Do you ever interrupt other people while they are talking? Do you ever try to complete their sentences? Ugghh. I am sometimes guilty and have come to realize how irritating it can be.
I have been told that when we ask someone a question, we should give them seven seconds to answer. Time that out. 1… 2… 3… 4… 5… 6… 7… It can feel like an eternity. But that seven seconds allows a person to gather their thoughts, check their hearts, and remember details. It is excellent practice in Patience and lets others know that we care enough to listen.
In 2024, the average person checked their cell phone 205 times a day. According to ITC.ua, that is equivalent to once every five minutes. For many, checking their phone is the first thing they do when they wake up and the last thing they do before going to bed.
What if in addition to checking our external devices, we take the time to check our internal guidance — our hearts and the quiet voice within. It looks and sounds like this: What am I being guided to do today? What are my instincts telling me about this situation? What is the right thing to do? What is the quality of my thoughts today?
While we are waiting in line for coffee or at the grocery, instead of checking our cell phone one more time, we can check into our being. Doing so slows us down and helps us make better choices. Now that is good practice in patience.
The Links below will take you to Resources you can use with the family or within community organizations
to teach the Character Quality of Patience.
The following activities are related to dates this month and can relate to any character quality or good character in general.
August Character All Month
See NationalToday, AndTodayIs, NationalDayCalendar or DaysOfTheYear for more information on these and other holidays to celebrate this month. Date in 2025 Holiday How to Commemorate with Character 1 National Promise to Care Day On #NationalPromiseToCareDay, Urgent...
First Day Of Autumn
Varies between September 21 and 24Make a Character Tree to identify character-based behavior on which you can focus. You can either draw or print a picture of a tree. Write suggestions of good behaviors on cutouts of leaves. If you write in a bold black marker, the...
Day of Encouragement
Always September 12Day of Encouragement was started in 2007 by a group of Searcy, Arkansas teenagers who felt that encouragement could help many teens face their problems. The Mayor of Searcy proclaimed September 12, Day of Encouragement. A similar proclamation was...
Our other Pillars have resources that can be used in a community or family setting.
Visit Patience in School>>
Activities
No Matter How You Say It
Curriculum Connections
Croskey’s Corner
Visit Patience in Business>>
Teambuilding
Power Up with Character
Interview Questions
Adult Business Books
Visit Patience in Faith>>
Christian Family Activity
Bible Verses
Christian Poster
Prayer and Reflections
Archived Resources