Waiting for Patience

“Patience is a virtue”-Late 14th century proverb.

"Genius is eternal patience"-Michelangelo

"All things come to him who waits - provided he knows what he is waiting for."-Woodrow T. Wilson

"Blessed are all who wait for Him!" Isaiah 30:18

“The waiting is the hardest part"-Tom Petty

"I want it now!"-Jeff Craft


Why is it so hard to wait? Patience is a good thing but there is life to live while I'm waiting for patience.

My first recollection of having to really wait for something, was waiting for something in the mail. Of course, I remember waiting for the bell to ring signaling the end of an endless school day, but I’m talking about patiently awaiting the arrival of something very special. A very special hat.

I grew up reading Archie comics. My parents had read them in their youth and felt compelled to continuously furnish my brother and I with the latest antics of Archie, Jughead and their cohorts from Riverdale High. When I was 7, Archie was hot. Not only did The Archies have a number one hit record, best selling albums, a top rated animated TV series but they were pitchmen for Post Cereals.

It was on one of the Cereal boxes at a Lucky's supermarket that I gazed upon the mail in offer for Jughead’s hat. With several box tops from a Post cereal and 50¢ I could own my own hat just like Jughead's. I knew that I wanted that hat. I needed that hat. I would live happily ever after if I had that hat!

My Mom graciously agreed to my acquisition plan and purchased a box of cereal that I didn’t really like (probably Alpha-Bits). I had to promise to actually consume the required cereal to obtain the necessary box tops. By the time I had eaten and collected all that I needed, the deadline arrived. My order form was mailed on the day of expiration. Now I had to find the patience to wait for something that might not actually come because it took so long to eat all that cereal.

After only a couple of weeks, I began my daily ritual of rushing home from school and checking the mailbox. I knew that it was a 6-8 week thing but I checked anyway, hoping for some sort of favor from some unknown postal fairy. As time went on, I started to resign myself to the possibility that it would not come. I would never have that silly beanie. How could I go on with out it?

Finally, one day after school, I entered our house and a box on the dining room table caught my eye. Was my wait over? I expectantly glanced at my Mom, who grinned widely. I can remember the butterflies I felt in my stomach and the blood rushing to my face. I ripped the box open and gingerly removed my Jughead hat. I surrendered to the excitement that I had held at bay. I engaged in a brief, awkward, happy dance (I’ve never been much of a dancer!) I loved that hat and wore it everywhere all the time. If you're living the life of a Jughead you might as well have the hat for it!


As an adult, I’ve become more discerning about my headgear choices but it is still hard to wait. Time seems to go by faster when you're older so waiting for inevitable things is easier. We even pay places like Disneyland for the privilege of waiting in lines all day long. We know that eventually we will reach the front of the line. Waiting for things that might not come or events that might not happen is still extremely hard. That’s where faith comes in. True patience for me only comes in trusting in God’s timing.

“To every thing there is a season, and a time for every purpose under the heaven…” Ecclesiastes 3:1-11

I’ve posted a picture of myself wearing my beloved Jughead hat. (I’m evidently trying to strangle my neighbor Gus)






I am, of course, still waiting for "dumb" to become a term used for greatness. If you haven't read my blog on the new "dumb", click here: My Dumb Blog