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An old train was crawling slowly through the countryside when it suddenly came to a complete stop. The solitary traveller in the carriage, a salesman, asked the conductor why they had stopped. The conductor said, "Nothing to be concerned about, sir. There's a cow on the tracks." About ten minutes later, the train started off again, but after creeping along for only another couple of kilometres, it ground to a halt again. "This is just a brief delay," said the conductor. "We'll get going again soon." The frustrated salesman asked, "What is it this time? Did we catch up to the cow again?"
A man's car stalled in the heavy traffic as the light turned green. All his efforts to start the engine failed, and a chorus of honking behind him made matters worse. He finally got out of his car and walked back to the first driver and said, "I'm sorry, but I can't seem to get my car started. If you'll go up there and give it a try, I'll stay here and blow your horn for you."
In ancient wars, it wasn't unusual for a powerful army to win very quickly. But it also wasn't unusual for a battle to take a long time - especially when besieging a city, it could take years. Those soldiers needed to have a lot more than strength, they needed staying power. Patience props up your faith when you don't immediately get what God promised you.
The most important thing that ever happened to this planet was the coming of Jesus. You'd think that God would be in a real hurry. But Jesus was a full-term baby. Conception, development, birth, growth...
All men commend patience, although few be willing to practise it. Thomas à Kempis