Can I speak on “love is patient” from the heart?

The theme for the month of September is Love and more specifically “love is patient”, Chapter 13, Verse 4, from the 1st Letter of St Paul, our patron saint, to the community of Corinth. The letter was about their troubles and the ways to fix them.

This verse, in fact, is without a doubt one of the most popular portions of scripture in the Bible. This Verse together with verses 5 to 7 are often read at weddings as it perfectly summarizes the power, characteristics and importance of love and the importance of patience!

This month we would focus on Verse 4, love is patient. Let’s explore this verse: Love Is Patient

My first reaction to having to speak on this topic was: Can I speak on this from the heart? Do I love, and do I have patience? One thing that I can say is that I definitely struggle with patience, especially when I am driving. I am sure if you too, reflect, you can find many instances when we lose our patience very easily and for me especially when things don’t get done when they should be — to say that a strong agitation stirs up in me when things aren’t happening on my ideal timeframe is in fact an understatement.

Let’s take homework as an example. Those of you who know me, know NOT to hand in homework late. So does that mean that I do not love you since I am not patient when you are not observing the timeframe? No, it does not, it means that I absolutely 100 PERCENT LOVE YOU. Why? It is because when you do not hand in your homework, I can patiently go through the one hundred million reasons why you should be doing the work, the importance of observing time frames, the meaning of homework and many other different reasons of why homework needs to be done and why a timeframe is set to do it in. Let’s not forget when I ask you to write the 2000-word essay that I would need to read on the importance of deadlines. A lot of patience on my part is needed.

A word of caution, if I or other teachers decide to not ask you for homework again, what does that mean? Is it that Ms So and So is so nice, they do not bother me for homework, or Mr XYZ is the best teacher in the world because I do not need to do anything. Think again. In fact, what is happening is these teachers have lost their patience, ERGO (dot, dot, dot).

Indeed a great teacher is very patient with their students and their parents to deal with the same questions and problems over and over again, Author Edward G Bulwer-Lytton said ‘patience is not passive” – it’s an active choice to NOT react negatively when things take time or turn out differently to what you expected. It is what teachers do each and every day of our lives. We practise patience regularly, increasing our powers of self-regulation and persisting with some of the students over the years. However, another note: TEACHERS ARE HUMAN BEINGS TOO. We are not God and as such when things go too far and you keep making the very same mistake and do the same wrong thing over and over again, we get FED UP. It would be time for you to find somewhere else.

Now let me take another example.

Think of your parents who tell you over and over to do something. You call it nagging. I say this is Love is patient’ in action. They teach you, you do not listen, they teach you again, and again and again.

Patience is not passive; on the contrary, it is active; it is concentrated strength. Strength to keep on with the mission.

For you students, are you patient with your parents, your teachers? Do you get frustrated easily and just give up? Remember there is no greatness without patience. It takes years of focused effort and perseverance to make a plan come true. If you believe in the plan, love that plan, you would be patient. Self-belief with relentless patience can transform into something big. You need to LOVE YOUR DREAM TO CHASE YOUR DREAM. Find IT, STAY committed to it even when you fail at first. Remember taking action consistently is what makes success a reality and this is where patience is key. It is a virtue and being patient is accepting the fact that Rome wasn’t built in a day; it required time, consistency and attentive effort.

Patience is the quietest but most impactful form of action. It is vital to not underestimate its role in leading a successful life. Love school, love family and patience would be there. Remember LOVE IS PATIENT!

Ms Lee B
2 September 2022