Whenever my 8-year old grandson comes to my home, it’s not long before he turns on his iPad to watch YouTube and play games.

I get exasperated waiting for his iPad to load its software.

With his childish “wisdom”, he cannot understand why it has to take so long.

With my adult “wisdom”, I get exasperated, emotionally. But intellectually, I understand that this delay is necessary to protect his iPad from bad things such as viruses.

Indeed, James, the brother of Jesus, encouraged us to stay patient in the face of such delays and frustrations. He wrote:

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. (James 1:2-4).

Unfortunately, I am not yet mature and complete. Instead, I am impatient, and easily frustrated—as happens every time my computer is slow to boot up or “refuses” to do what I want it to do.

Until about thirty years ago, I used to think I was a very patient person. But I learned the truth about myself when I was leading the Bible study in a small group of about ten people.

I mentioned how I was a very patient person. Everyone burst into laughter!

That day, I learned the value of being in a small group of people who know you well.

They explained that I am an extremely impatient person.

And so, I learned how easy it is to deceive ourselves about ourselves. (James 1:22; 1 John 1:8).

I experienced how easy it is not to see the plank in our own eye. (Matthew 7:3-5).

I realized that I thought I was patient only because I was actually impatient. If I wait even a very short time, it seems like a very long time. Why? Because I am such an impatient person!

I’ve also come to realize that culture plays a role.

When I am not in New York State, I often find myself squirming at a restaurant. What is taking them so long to serve me?

In a restaurant in Florida, I need to force myself not to get frustrated and anxious. I have to remind myself: don’t be a stereotypical New Yorker! Don’t confirm what people believe about “a New York minute”!

In life, I have to force myself to be patient.

I have to remind myself that I should count it pure joy when I am waiting:

—Waiting for a computer to load software.

—Waiting in traffic.

—Waiting in a slow line at the grocery store.

—Waiting for Covid to go away.

—Waiting to recover from surgery.

—Waiting for a broken bone to heal.

Indeed, I have to remind myself that I can only become complete and mature because I’ve learn to consider it pure joy when I face trials and frustrations that produce patience and perseverance.

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For additional thoughts about patience, preparation and perseverance, please read my blogs “Praying and Waiting”, “Sprouting Seeds Takes Patience”, “The Webb Space Telescope—Reaching the Place of Service”, “The Webb Space Telescope—Years of Preparation”, “The Webb Space Telescope: God’s Unfolding Plans”, and “The Webb Space Telescope: Fashioning Each Mirror”.

For additional thoughts inspired by my grandson, please read my blogs “The Christmas Star: I Saw It in Real Life!”, “Honoring God with Only Our Lips”, “What Makes a Hero Good?”, “Video Game Strategy: Getting Crucified”, “Sprouting Seeds Takes Patience”, “Birthdays”, “I Love You Gram. Bye!”, “Let the Creator Show and Tell Me What To Do”, “New Teeth: In Our Lives”, “New Teeth: In Our Civilizations”, and “Too Much ‘TNT’”.