The Wisdom of Patience

Written and published by Jean-Louis. 4/2012


He has made everything beautiful in his time.
The end of the matter is better than its beginning
and patience is better than pride. Ecclesiastes 3:11; 7:8.

A few years back a Kraft commercial for their Parmesan cheese attracted my attention. I love the way Jewish, Italian, French or Brazilian families to name a few make the dinner table a place of great communication in sharing political debate, loud banter and laughter while at the same time respecting the experience and wisdom of the elders in the family.

On the screen a wonderful long table was set with all the delicious dishes cooked by the Mama for her Italian family. In the middle of the table a small child was sitting next to his grand-pa, anxiously waiting his turn to devour the delicious spaghetti with an appetite already stimulated by the wonderful aroma of the marinara sauce.

His big round eyes were following the can of parmesan cheese as each one was passing it around the table. He was so eager to start eating that he lifted his eyes and asked his grand-pa permission to start: “now, Grand-paw” who was answering: “not yet”. Then the same questions and answers were shared just by an inquiring glance from below and a negative movement of the index finger above. Slowly everybody was shaking the can in a heaping serving of grated cheese on their plate. 

You could see the impatience grow on the kid´s face and in his eyes imploring his grand-father to give him the signal. Nobody else seemed to pay attention to the silent complicity between the oldest and the youngest member of the family. Finally after the can had made the rounds to his grand-paw and the child had victoriously shaken the container onto his plate, (there was enough left!) one last time he obediently raised his eyes and with a grin waited for the green light from one he respected and that he knew loved him enough to teach him the important lessons in life. The grandfather, an affectionate smile on his face released the hungry boy with a simple nod.

This beautifully thought and presented commercial reveals a spiritual lesson that the Lord was trying to teach me.

How many times when we pray asking our Father in Heaven in faith and according to his will knowing that he will answer us do we then grow impatient when the answer doesn´t come right away? 

Do we understand the number of levels the Lord works on?

Do we know that He has already answered us, but that we are not the only ones he wants to bless? 
Do we realize that he may be sending his messengers, be they man or angels to affect the lives of people half way around the world and connecting events that took place 40, 50,100 years ago to bring about his desired end according to his will and his purpose?

To everything there is a season and I would add a “Seasoning”. To read about seasoning with salt in the season of brokenness click: Here

So next time you are tempted to reach and grab for the Parmesan cheese across the table, be patient and remember the wisdom of the elders.

 Jean-Louis.