Day 124 - Patience

"Love is patient..." 
Working every other day with a child of 18 months has made this word "patient" a very real necessity in my life.  Patient, defined as "bearing provocation, annoyance, misfortune, delay, hardship, pain, etc., with fortitude and calm and without complaint, anger, or the like," is admittedly a very difficult thing to be at times, especially when the baby is pushing limits and buttons or crying for no apparent reason.  As much as it's important when dealing with a child, it's equally if not more important to have when living in relationship.  
I will use myself as an example.  I am blessed to have some really good, close friends, and at times I wonder how they can stand me.  Don't get me wrong - I'm a pretty amazing person and I try to take very good care of people with whom I'm in relationship....  But there are times when I can be lazy, mean (sarcasm being my weapon of choice), mildly violent (I don't usually hit hard though), insecure, stubborn, and childish.  I'm sure my friends could add to that list.  But the beauty for me of them being my friends is that, because they love me as much as they do, they bear with my minor annoyances (and happily correct them at times) in an effort to maintain the relationship (and make me better).  
Is it always easy to deal in patience with someone's flaws or particular communication style or habits?  No.  That's why it's called patience.  You have to make the conscious and intentional decision to deal calmly with something that may frustrate you greatly.  This isn't to say that you have patience with everything or that your patience never ends with certain things.  My friends often have to "encourage" me in looking for a job, even though I know it's something I need to do.  But they shouldn't have to be patient with me if I'm complaining about being broke while not looking for a job.  
How much patience is to be extended and for what is decided on an individual relationship basis, but I encourage you to be more patient with others than you would want others to be with you.  Of course, do use wisdom - don't let your patience become detrimental enabling.