TheDiscipleMD

Sometimes in our desire to help friends, family and associates, we think that by pushing them forward we are helping. We want them to be where we think they “ought” to be, not where they are. More often than not, they come away with feelings of being unloved and invalidated. I am reminded of an incident that happened many years ago. A young lady came to me and told me that she was dating a man who was not a member of our faith. She expressed reservations but was determined to marry him because she loved him. He, on his part, had been studying the gospel and had made the determination to be baptized and commit his life to Jesus Christ. I cautioned her that if she were going to marry him, she would need to be patient with him in his newfound faith and priesthood responsibilities. She nodded her head in agreement. After they had been married for less than a year, I received a phone call from her one day in which she lamented that she was frustrated with her husband because he was not taking the lead in their home. I reminded her of our previous conversation, and she determined to be more patient and let her husband progress at his own pace, not hers.

Now, years later, this man faithfully supports his family of five children, responsibly exercises his priesthood, and is a credit to the community, the church, and his family.

This young woman learned a valuable lesson in loving and supporting her husband through his progression. She found that the heavenly virtue of patience is often required of those who follow the Savior.  (Hebrews 6:12) He, above all others, showed patience to all those who came to him for relief and comfort.  Remember, our timeline of progression for others might not always match theirs or that of the Lord’s! Sometimes that progression can even extend into the afterlife.