Patience ~ Deacon Brendan Brides

Saint Francis De Sales once said: "Have patience with all things, but chiefly have patience with yourselves. Do not loose courage in considering your own imperfections, but instantly set about remedying them - every day begin the task anew."

In developing your own patience you could follow Saint Francis' words of encouragement or you could do what we did .... you could get a dog! A dog that walks past her water bowl to drink from the toilet bowl, a dog that turns potted flowers into potted stalks by ripping all the heads off, a dog that digs craters in the yard, chews on furniture, rips clothes from the line and barks profusely at everyone that goes by. I suspect Saint Francis would have changed his philosophy on patience if he had met our dog Maia.

Patience is considered a virtue, a virtue that we are called to extend to all those we meet throughout our day. Indeed, a virtue we are called to extend to every situation and creature we encounter throughout our day. The words of Saint Francis are encouraging and up-lifting. However, if you feel that you are up for more of a challenge - I have a dog you can borrow!