Is patience difficult for you? A man in Los Angeles, California was arrested for
negligent discharge of a weapon after shooting his toilet bowl five times with a
38 caliber handgun. He claims that he just got upset. He couldn't take it any
longer. His daughter had flushed a hairbrush earlier in the day and clogged the
pipes. So he shot the offending toilet. I have no word on the toilet's
condition, but the man's patience was long gone.
I once learned a valuable lesson about patience. I came across a box turtle
while walking home one day. I brought him home to examine a little more closely.
My intention was to keep him for a few hours and let him go.
I put the turtle down and waited for him to come out of his shell. He didn't. I
pulled up a chair and waited some more. He didn't budge. I sang to the turtle.
Still no appearance. I told turtle stories. I coaxed him with food. But nothing
worked.
Finally, I had to leave. So I barricaded the porch in case the turtle decided to
leave, too. After all, I still hadn't gotten a closer look.
The turtle decided he had had enough. When I returned, the porch was empty. He
apparently didn't think much of my barricade.
I learned a valuable lesson from that turtle. He just bided his time and waited.
He wasn't much interested in food, songs or stories. He only wanted me to go
away. So he patiently waited until I left. Then he left, too.
It's been well said: "Hold on; hold fast; hold out. Patience is genius." Be a
genius. Be patient.
By Steve Goodier © 2004 Life Support
http://www.LifeSupportSystem.com
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