If there’s one character trait that always teaches me just as much as my children, it’s patience. No matter how many times I go over this lesson with them, I’m always learning something new about myself. I suppose that’s a good thing because you and I both know that our character is always something that can be worked on.
As we bring this series to a close, I found it most appropriate to end it with patience. The following resources and tools will help you teach this amazing, yet sometimes difficult, trait to your children (and glean a little for yourself).
Learning About Patience
With the very definition of patience being, “the capacity to accept or tolerate delay, trouble, or suffering without getting angry or upset,” there are three primary concepts that can be the focus of teaching your children about it:
- Waiting calmly for something (especially an event or a reward).
- Trusting in God’s timing (regardless if we understand it or not).
- Being more tolerant of other’s shortcomings (especially when they have a direct effect on us).
As parents, we know all too well how our children handle things in life. They want what they want when they want it. No ifs, ands, or buts about it. The resources below will help you teach your child about minding their temper, changing their demanding attitude, and being tolerant of the failings of others.
Memory Verses about Patience
The idea behind incorporating Scripture into your character study is to help invite the Holy Spirit to bring about a lasting change in your children. Use the Scriptures below for memorization, copy work, journaling, or in prayer:
- Psalm 37:7 “Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways when they carry out wicked schemes.”
- Proverbs 14:29 “A patient man has great understanding, but a quick-tempered man displays folly.”
- Proverbs 19:11 “A man’s wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense.”
- Romans 12:12 “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”
- 1 Corinthians 13:4 “Love is patient, love is kind. . . .”
- Galatians 5:22-23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things, there is no law.”
- Ephesians 4:2 “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.”
Bible Stories to Teach Patience
As I’ve said before, reading Bible stories are a great way to help your child have a great connection to the Word. They can also be used to show our children how a trait can be walked out in their own lives. These stories are a great place to start when teaching about patience:
God is Good (Nehemiah 9)
Key concepts: Talk to your children about God caring for the Israelites and how that can be seen in how you care about them (your children). Point out that although God was upset with them, He still showed patience. And even though He was patient, He still had to discipline them. Relate it to the fact that as parents, we have to be patient but there is also a time for discipline.
The Patient Farmer (James 5:7-9; Mark 4:18-19)
Key concepts: Just as a farmer keeps his farm to grow and produce a certain crop, we too can be farmers for God’s kingdom. This means being patient and kind to others, never knowing when our character will be the very thing that helps someone come to accept Jesus as their Savior.
Jesus is Patient (1 Timothy 1:15-16 and 2 Peter 3:9)
Paul talks about how Jesus displays unlimited patience, waiting for people to confess their sins. God has a lot of patience. Every day He waits for people to tell Him they are sorry they have sinned. God is so patient that He keeps waiting. He loves us all so much that He doesn’t want anyone to miss out on having his or her sins forgiven.
Activities to Teach Patience
Use the following arts and crafts ideas to teach patience to your children:
- Patience heart necklace: cut out a small heart from construction paper and punch two holes in it (one on each side) to use as the centerpiece. Put a memory verse on it and tie a piece of yarn through the two holes. Have your child wear it as a necklace and reminder to be patient.
- Patience fruit: use your child’s favorite fruit to create a fruit stamp art activity. Cut the fruit in half and dip it in paint. Then, stamp it on a piece of paper. Explain that it resembles the fruit of the spirit’s patience.
- Growing patience: choose a flower to grow from seed. Have your child keep a growing chart and also teach about the patience of growing a flower.
These resources are sure to help teach your child about patience! Enjoy!
Leave a Reply