SURRENDER TO A DIFFERENT PACE
Learning to surrender to the nature of our life with children takes some
getting used to. Children by their nature test our patience—it comes with
the territory. As our children grow into teens, they try our patience even
more, albeit in different ways. Now it isn’t a matter of waiting for them
to finish their cereal or tie their laces, but having a monosyllabic
conversation and waiting in line behind all their friends to gain access to
them.
The development of patience is more than a necessary response to our
children; it’s an opportunity to surrender to the present moment. When
our children require our patience, we are asked to drop our agenda,
breathe, and let go of the demands of our ego so that we can appreciate
the present moment more fully. For this reason the development of
patience is a spiritual practice, with our children at the helm, challenging
us to take life at a slower and more conscious pace. Having said this, I
also recognize that there are times when we have no time for patience,
literally. We simply have to get from one place to another without delay.
It would be a shame if this became the way we functioned on a regular
basis though. With their slower tempo, children offer us a priceless
jewel, since a child’s natural rhythm is much closer to a soul rhythm
than that of most adults. For this reason, it’s helpful when we are in a
hurry to remind ourselves there is no place to be but where we are at this
moment. Instead of rushing, we need to allow ourselves to become
present with our child’s soul. If we find ourselves feeling anxious and
not really present, the best service we can render to ourselves and our
children is to enter into quietness and stillness until we restore our sense