Have you ever prayed for something... and then found yourself checking every day to see if God had answered it yet?
I think we've all been there.
We live in a world that loves instant results. We can order almost anything online and have it delivered in a day or two. We expect quick answers, quick fixes, and quick success.
But life doesn't usually work that way.
Robin Sharma reminds us that greatness isn't built overnight. It's built one day at a time, one decision at a time, one faithful step at a time.
I've learned that's true.
When I opened Tomorrow's Promise in 1997, I had three students.
Three.
If someone had walked up to me back then and said, "One day you'll have three campuses, hundreds of children, national accreditation, community awards, and thousands of families whose lives you've touched," I probably would have smiled and thought they were dreaming.
None of that happened quickly.
It happened one child at a time.
One teacher at a time.
One family at a time.
One challenge at a time.
Looking back, I'm actually grateful it happened that way.
Because while God was building the school, He was also building me.
Why Patience Is One of Our Greatest Strengths
Patience teaches us to trust the process.
Some of the most important work in our lives happens where we can't see it. Just like a seed grows roots long before anyone sees a flower, God is often working beneath the surface long before we see the results.
Patience keeps us from quitting too soon.
I've watched children learn this lesson for years.
A child may struggle to zip a jacket or tie a shoe. If we step in too quickly, they never discover what they're capable of. But if we encourage them, give them time, and let them keep trying, something wonderful happens.
Eventually they smile and say...
"I did it!"
Adults aren't much different.
Sometimes we need to keep trying just a little longer than feels comfortable.
Patience grows our character.
Looking back over the last three decades, I realize the biggest blessings weren't just the accomplishments.
It was becoming the kind of person who could handle those accomplishments with wisdom, humility, and gratitude.
Sometimes God isn't making us wait because He's saying "no."
Sometimes He's preparing us for a bigger "yes."
Your Patience Challenge for the Week
| Focus | What to Do | Why It Helps |
|---|---|---|
| Pause Before Reacting | When something doesn't go your way this week, stop and take one deep breath before responding. | Creates thoughtful responses instead of emotional reactions. |
| Remember Your Journey | Think about something in your life that took years—not days—to become meaningful. | Reminds you that the best things often take time. |
| Stay Faithful | Keep doing the next right thing, even if you can't yet see the results. | Builds perseverance and trust. |
Progress doesn't always happen quickly.
But that doesn't mean it isn't happening.
A Lesson I've Learned
If I could go back and talk to the younger Kaye who opened a little Montessori school with three students, I think I'd tell her this:
"Don't rush the journey.
You're going to have hard days.
There will be moments when you'll wonder if it's all worth it.
Keep going.
One day you'll look back and realize every challenge taught you something you couldn't have learned any other way."
And I would tell her one more thing...
"Trust God's timing.
It's always better than your own."
Final Thought
If you're waiting for something today, don't lose heart.
Keep planting the seeds.
Keep showing kindness.
Keep doing excellent work.
Keep believing.
Because the life you're building doesn't happen all at once.
It happens one faithful day at a time.
And one day you'll look back and realize that what felt like waiting...
was actually becoming.
References
- Sharma, Robin. The Everyday Hero Manifesto. HarperCollins, 2021.
- Covey, Stephen R. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. Simon & Schuster, 1989.
- Collins, Jim. Good to Great. HarperBusiness, 2001.
- Psychology Today. "The Psychological Benefits of Patience."
Remember... life isn't changed by one big decision. It's changed by the little decisions we make every day. Today's small choices become tomorrow's legacy. So choose wisely, love deeply, keep learning, and keep growing. Until next Monday, have a wonderful week... and keep building your legacy, one small choice at a time.