The Rewards Of Patience

The Rewards of Patience

Be patient with everyone. 1 Thessalonians 5:14

Patience. In our world of constant connectivity, instant gratification, and immediate results, patience seems in short supply. A cursory look at cable television news seems to show a rush to judgment from a lack of listening and little time or room for a fair and full airing of differences of opinion.

That was always a challenge when we were building a football team. There were times when we had to fill needs quickly on our team when there were holes on the offensive or defensive side of the ball created by free agency or retirement or injury.

Consequently, there were many times we had to act quickly. However, our preference was always to approach meeting our present and future player needs patiently, thoughtfully, and corporately with as much input as possible. It required a lot of trust and demanded patience. It required time for others to offer their input—contributions I always valued and often embraced. This preparation all lent itself to building our team and filling our needs through the draft.

There were other teams who would trade high draft picks for players who were disgruntled elsewhere because the organization felt they had to rush to a decision. We never wanted to do that.

Even though in the NFL there is the ever-present pressure to win the Super Bowl, we found that our slow, careful method was a better way to build for the future. It provided a longer-term satisfaction and joy within our organization. And since everyone had an opportunity to contribute in some way, they claimed ownership in the decisions and direction we undertook.

How well do you score on the patience scale? When you make one snap decision after another, it could affect your health, your family, and even your job or business. If possible, take time and seek additional input from others before something is set in stone. From my experience, I believe a person always benefits from different perspectives.

Uncommon Key > Watch your patience meter today. Having a patient attitude toward life means you focus on God, not on the things of this world, which can so often drag a person down. And there’s a side benefit when you keep your eyes on Him: personal joy.