We all grew up with sayings…

I’m sure you’ve heard the timeless:

“If you can’t say something nice, then don’t say anything at all.”

My experience of today’s “We get what we get and we don’t throw a fit.” was a little more gruff:

“Well, life’s not fair. Tough.”

Perhaps the most non-politically correct of all was:

“I brought you into this world…I can take you out of it.”

(Because moms don’t really have the right to take their children out. Unless they want to do some serious jail-time.)

I chuckle as I think back on some of the sayings that I grew up with... Then I began to write down all the sayings that I’ve found myself using with my own children. I’ve deemed them shareable, so here’s the start of the Momma Says Series. I hope these will encourage you - and perhaps challenge you.

Momma says…

“Work your patience (in order for your patience to work).”

Patience…it’s such a commodity.

You can either feel that you possess it, desperately need it, or be found somewhere in between.

*sigh*

I’m sure you’ve heard it said, “Patience is a virtue.” Meaning patience is a quality considered morally good or desirable in a person. 

And long before the days of “Patience is a virtue” was said, the Apostle Paul explained that patience is a fruit (or result) of God’s Spirit at work in our life:

But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!

Galatians 5:22-23

In order to grow in patience, we must work our patience! 

On a seemingly daily basis, I tell my children:

“Work your patience (in order for your patience to work).”

It’s helpful to picture patience as a muscle. And in order for a muscle to get stronger - it must be worked! It must be stretched, used, and even pushed past its breaking point. 

We can help our children understand that patience must work in order for it to work. By saying Yes! to those patience-testing moments, we give our Patience Muscle an opportunity for it to strengthen and grow.

So the next time they (or you) feel they can’t wait another minute - wait another minute - and work your patience in order for your patience to work!