Thought for the Day 7/9/2021

Friday Tale - Learning to Wait 

A customer struck up a conversation with the clerk in a retail store. “Wow, $17.76,” he said. “The year of the US Declaration of Independence. And exactly 200 years later I was born.”

    That began an intense conversation with the employee about interesting historical events. All the while a line formed behind him.

    When the customer finally left, the next patron in line impatiently asked what was going on. “Oh, we were just sharing interesting historical fun facts,” the clerk said.

“Well, then," said the irritated customer, "can you tell me what happened the year I started waiting in line?"

    As Mark Twain says, “All good things arrive to them that wait -- and don't die in the meantime.”

    Do you know how to wait? I’m sure you get plenty of opportunities to practice.

    After moving to the city, I grew impatient with the bumper-to-bumper traffic. I decided to keep a harmonica in the glove compartment, along with a beginner's book. When traffic was held up, I took out my harmonica and played. I figured I could either practice patience or practice the harmonica. The harmonica seemed like more fun.

    There’s a great secret to waiting patiently: make it fun. Like I said, there’s a secret to waiting patiently: make it fun. You just might look forward to your next traffic jam.

~ Steve Goodier

I waited patiently for the LORD;
and He inclined to me and heard my cry.
He put a new song in my mouth,
a song of praise to our God.
~ Psalm 40:1, 3