Those who know me would probably have heard me say, at least once, that ‘Patience is a virtue’. But those who truly know me would say that I am not a patient person. I am the avatar of restlessness when it comes to waiting. So while I profess that Patience and I are really good friends, spending time with each other is not really something I like or look forward to.

In one of his writings, Blessed James Alberione stated, “What gain is there to be restless, agitated, vexed, to be furious and cursing when it is not in our power to change events?  Mind gets disturbed, character is deformed, tempers rise, the moral stature declines, and health is damaged. And, in spite of all these the facts do not change. We have succeeded only to add to our physical suffering a moral affliction as well.” I couldn’t agree more.

We expect. We anticipate. We even want to dictate the outcome of what we’re waiting for as if we have the full control of everything. While we can condition the mind and command the universe to do what we want, we know that it doesn’t always work that way. We need to meet and befriend Acceptance.

A wise man once told me that the hallmark of maturity is Acceptance. I now reflect about Patience and Acceptance and I believe they are twins – offspring produced from the same pregnancy. That everyday in our lives, through success and defeat, joy and sorrow, we actually conceive within us, these two virtues which in due time, will emerge from our beings and just like a mother staring at her brood, one will say, ‘you, my children, define who I am.’

Life may be all about waiting. We anticipate great things to happen but we also prepare for the inevitable. Either way, it is Acceptance which will get us through.  And the irony of all is that, Acceptance only comes in time. You will need to be, yet again, patient for Acceptance to happen.

Next time you feel restlessness within, try to remember these twins, who annoyingly, will make you feel better and will significantly make a difference.