The patient person shows much good sense, but the quick-tempered one displays folly at its height.
— Proverbs 14:29
Patience is a character trait that does not come easily to me. As a little sister, I always wanted to do everything my brother, Lee, was doing and never wanted to wait until I was old enough to age into his activities, classes, or outings. Lee was generous of spirit and let me tag along, but there were still times when I had to stay behind, and I struggled. Funny how things can change — I learned to practice patience over time, and my brother ended up marrying one of my best friends, so he’s the one tagging along with us now!
The Hebrew word for patience is savlanut from the root sevel, meaning suffering. Our tradition understands that waiting can be very painful. It is hard to tell a child that everything has a time and a place, and it is difficult for any of us to bear the weight of our emotions when we feel stuck in a situation.
Practicing patience can be so very hard, but Proverbs reminds us that when we demonstrate patience for a meaningful purpose, we exhibit our best sense and can even improve our world. May we find the strength to push through this difficult time, knowing that our patience during this flattening of the curve is a demonstration of our best judgment and a commitment to making our world a healthier, safer place.
— Cantor Emma Lutz