Having Patience

Lately, I've been thinking about what areas of my life I could be working on, especially in regard to the new year.
One of them is so obvious, it sticks out to me every day.

"You're taking forever to put your shoes on!"
"Mary Catherine, I'm trying!"
"They're going to leave without you!"

Every single older sibling that I know endures the constant waiting on a younger child. And sometimes - Okay, a lot - I get a little - Okay, a lot - impatient.
What can we do about it?
Did you know that patience is one of the fruits of the spirit? In James 5:7, the Bible tells us to be patient for the coming of the Lord. Imagine how patient God has to be with us, his little children. We stray off of the righteous path countless times, but does he get irritated or give up on us? No! He is patient, setting for us a Holy example. Sometimes we have to patiently wait for God to answer prayer. Psalm 40:1 says, "I waited patiently for the Lord; He turned to me and heard my cry."
Isaiah 40:31 says, "But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; They shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles; They shall run and not be weary; They shall walk and not faint."
If we wait patiently, God will strengthen us. He loves and cares for us, and he never gives us more waiting than we can handle. God died for us. Don't you think that we can at least lovingly wait on our siblings?
Have a blessed day!
--Mary Catherine