“He who is slow to anger is better than a hero, And he who is self-controlled, than he who takes cities.” Proverbs 16:32

Something to think about: Matthew 12:18-21

Here’s a story about patience (Arek) that I read and found very beautiful on the internet. It’s about a taxi driver and an old lady.
A taxi driver in New York wrote:
“I arrived at the address and honked my horn. After waiting a few minutes, I honked again. As it was my last run of the day, I thought about leaving, but eventually I parked and then walked to the door and knocked.

– “Just a minute,” came the reply in an elderly voice. I could hear something dragging on the floor.
After a long pause, the door opened. A small woman of 90 stood before me. She was wearing a printed dress and a hat with a veil, looking like a character from a 1940s film.

Next to her was a small nylon suitcase. The flat looked as if no one had lived there for years. All the furniture was covered in sheets.

– Could you carry my luggage to the car?” she said. I carried the suitcase to my car, then went back to help the woman.
She took my arm and we walked slowly to the edge of the pavement. She kept thanking me for my kindness. “It’s nothing,” I told her, “I’m just trying to treat my passengers the way I would want my mother to be treated.”

– “Ob, you’re a good boy,” she said. When we had arrived in the car, she gave me an address, then asked:

– “Can you go through the city centre?

– That’s not the shortest way,” I replied.

– Oh, I don’t mind,” she said.

– I’m in no hurry. I’m on my way to the hospice.
I looked in the rear-view mirror. Her eyes twinkled.
I don’t have any family,” she continued in a soft voice. The doctor says I won’t have one for much longer.” I discreetly turned off the meter. “Which road would you like me to take?” I asked.

For the next two hours, we drove through the city. She showed me the building where she had worked as a lift operator. We drove through the neighbourhood where she and her husband had lived when they were newlyweds. She made me stop in front of a furniture warehouse that used to be a ballroom where she had gone dancing as a young girl.
Sometimes she would ask me to slow down in front of a particular building or in a corner and sit staring into the darkness, saying nothing. When the sun began to reach the horizon, she suddenly said: “I’m tired, I’d like us to go now”.
We drove in silence to the address she had given me. Two nurses got out and headed for the taxi. They were very attentive and watched the old lady’s every move. They were obviously waiting for her to arrive.
I opened the boot and carried the small suitcase to the door. The woman was already sitting in a wheelchair.
– “How much do I owe you?” she asked, opening her bag.
bag. –

– Nothing,” I said.

– You have to earn a living,” she replied.

– There will be other passengers,” I replied.
Almost without thinking about it, I leaned over and gave her a hug. She hugged me tightly.
“You’ve given an old lady a little moment of joy,” she said.

– Thank you very much.

I shook his hand and turned around. Behind me, a door slammed, the sound of a life ending.
I took no passengers for the rest of my journey. I drove aimlessly, lost in thought. I hardly spoke for the rest of the evening. What if this woman had been dealing with an angry driver, or someone impatient and in a hurry? What if I had refused to take the ride, or had honked the horn several times and then left without waiting? On reflection, I don’t think I’ve done anything more important in my life.”

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, give me the grace to be patient and slow to anger, like You who have always been full of grace towards the weak, without ever breaking them.

I read my Bible in 1 year: Leviticus 15; Psalms 18; Proverbs 29

This text is an extract from the book “Divine Patience to Possess Hidden Treasures and Resources – In His Image to Dominate 4 ” written by Mohammed SANOGO.