Besides having to practice the virtue of patience with regards to others, how often do we find ourselves impatient with our own faults and failures? We are beset with sin, especially some habitual sins. The more we try to break from them, the more we seem to fail. This could lead to frustration and impatience with ourselves. This impatience could lead to discouragement and a sense of hopelessness.

We have a choice to remain in a state of hopelessness or to admit our weakness and renew our commitment to start again, depending more on the strength and grace of God. For as St. Paul reminds us: "When I am weak, it is then that I am strong." Or as Saint Junipero Serra's motto says: "Always forward, always forward and never turn back."  It is those times when we see our faults, that we need to express patience with ourselves, the same patience that God shows when we sin. He doesn't condone our sins, but encourages us to start again. Lord, help me to grow in patience, today!