We all know that patience is a virtue. Those of you who know me also know that, virtuous or not, it's not one of my strengths. But it's something I need to work on, other wise I would miss out on a lot of really great moments. For example...
Every time my daughter ends up at the grocery store, she asks for a Care Bear out of the machine in the lobby. Any most of the time she gets two. She's spoiled and rotten as all get out for it, but hey, you'll have that. Anyway, last night we made a trip into the grocery store, and she got herself a Care Bear toy.
Now, during this time of collecting, she has been trying to get all 8 varieties, but really wants two specific bears. The dark pink one, and the dark blue one. She has managed to get several of each of the other 6 types, but no luck on the two she doesn't have. It's really kind of becoming an obsession. When we walk in, we get one, and it's a third copy of the orange one she has. She's happy she got one, but she wants me to put it in my pocket because she's just not that interested in more of the usual. She's 4, it's really kind of hard to fault her for that.
Anyway, we do our grocery shopping and as I go to pay, I notice that I have a dollar in my wallet. It shouldn't be any problem to turn this dollar into quarters and get my daughter, who is at this point talking the ears off anybody who comes within 50 feet of her, our cashier not withstanding. After I pay for our groceries, I ask the cashier if she can give me change for a dollar. She, in not so nice a fashion, tells me if I want change I have to go to another register, and points me in the right direction.
This is where that patience thing comes into play. I start getting frustrated almost immediately. I am not going to waste my time walking around, just because you can't count out 4 quarters. Miraculously I don't say this to the lady. My daughter and I then make our way to this second register, which is not open, but has a sign directing us to a third register for "any of your check cashing needs". I don't really need a check cashed I just need some quarters, but whatever.
More frustration.
I then get to the tertiary register to find a line. Ok, another set back, but we'll survive. Until the cashier walks away for what appears to be no reason, leaving this line of people to fend for ourselves.
More frustration.
I'm to the point now where I look down at my daughter and tell her we're going to have to skip our second Care Bear and head home. She's sad, but understanding. On our way out the second register is now staffed, with a person counting money at it. We walk up to it and I start to ask for quarters, since the drawer is already open. I get to the "Can I get..." part before I am interrupted. "It's going to be a minute!"
More frustration.
I then wait with what little patience I have left for this person to finish counting her money and closing her drawer. When she asks what I need I say, I just need quarters and hand her my dollar. She informs me she will have to call someone over to open her drawer. The drawer that as just open.
More frustration.
I finally get my quarter and am so frustrated and fed up I can barely see straight. We're on our way out and my daughter grabs my hand and yanks me over to the Care Bear machine. We put our hard won quarters in and she helps me turn the handle. And wouldn't you know it, the elusive dark pink Care Bear makes an appearance. My daughter is ecstatic. She starts running circles around the vestibule, she starts screaming and jumping up and down. She is hugging her little plastic egg thing to her chest, elated that she has the dark pink Care Bear.
All of my frustration melts away in an instant. My daughter is the happiest she's been all day. Possibly all week. All because of 3 quarters and a plastic Care Bear.
Patience. I see the virtue in it. And I see why it is some important to have it, use it, and make it a part of every situation we find ourselves in. Now I just need to find a way to cultivate that in my own life, so I can share more moments like this with the people I love.
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