Trying to Be Patient

          One afternoon I took my children to the movies. My son Scott, who was seven years old at the time, was anxious for the movie to begin. As the different advertisements appeared on the screen, Scott leaned over and whispered, "Dad, when's the movie going to start?"

          "In a few minutes."

          One minute later he again asked, "Dad, when is it going to start?"

          "In just a little bit."

          After he asked the third time, I said, "Scott, don't ask me that question again. Just sit there and wait."

          My son, who was a quiet and obedient child, fidgeted and tried to be patient. Finally he leaned over and whispered a different question. "Dad, can you make time go faster?"

          Many times we say to God, "Father, can you make time go faster? I'm so tired of waiting. I'm anxious for my prayer to be answered. Please make it arrive sooner." (Kent Crockett, The 911 Handbook, Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers, 2003, 108)