Love is many things, Lord,
and perhaps above all - it is patient...
Love waits patiently while the beloved delays, demurs, tarries
and tries the lover's patience..
With quiet patience, love endures
defeat and disappointment, never allowing discouragement
to snatch the beloved away...
With no complaint, love suffers
for the sake of the beloved: no hardship,
no pain proves too much for love to bear...
You're a patient lover, Lord:
you wait for me and never give up on me;
you endure my foolishness even when I run from you;
you suffer for my sake and freely bear my burdens...
I've done nothing to deserve your patient love. Even when I waste it, when I turn from it,
when I deny and reject you, even then,
patiently,
you wait til my heart changes, you endure my slow progress,
and you suffer my self-pity
all because your love for me is patient and you'll never let me go...
Keep my from the quick and hasty judgment, Lord;
let me judge as I'd have others judge me:
patiently, with mercy and justice...
Curb my sharp tongue and give me patience in my speech:
let no harsh words escape my mouth- don't even let me think them...
Give me patience in understanding those who are not like me
and help me see in the differences all that complements and completes us...
Give me the patience I need to move among others
with gentleness, reverence and respect: careful not to step on others' hearts and letting others go before me,
before my needs are served...
Give me patience, Lord, with those I live and work with: the ones I take for granted, the ones I ignore, and the ones I so easily forget
in my rush to get what I want,
when I want it...
Give me patience with myself, Lord,
when I'm quick to judge, to doubt, abuse and hate myself.
Remind me of your mercy, of your trust in the person you made me to be, of your gentle touch upon my wounds and pain,
and of the love you never fail to give...
Forgive and heal me, Lord, when my lack of patience leads me to
anger and judgment, harsh words or silence, jealousy or self-pity...
When my impatience spirals into doubt and fear,
calm my anxious heart with the patient grace of your heart
and hold me in your mercy til I'm washed clean in your peace...
Be patient with my impatience, Lord, and help me be patient with any and all whose paths cross mine today...
Amen.
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