Patience

Study the patience of a bird on its nest, or grow Parents’ prayer

sugar crystal candy. Measure your progress in Before you begin leading your children through this
patience with a paper chain! study, spend time alone with God interceding for
His help. Ask Him to help you grow in patience, and
Take your pick of over a dozen activities that to release His power in your kids.
help kids:
Use the sample prayer below, or build your own
• wait calmly for an event or reward prayer using the verses under “Scripture-guided
prayer.”
• trust God’s timing
Sample prayer
• be more tolerant of others’ shortcomings. God of Love, You demonstrate Your patience for us
through Your continual forgiveness of sin. Day after
This lesson also helps curb a quick temper, a day I fail, yet Your Word assures me of Your enduring
demanding attitude, and intolerance for the failings love and forgiveness (Psalm 13:5-6, Psalm 85:2-3). It
of others. is the riches of Your kindness, tolerance and patience
that lead us to repentance (Romans 2:4). Thank you
for Your Son Jesus, and for the way He modelled
Lesson contents patience with His disciples. Jesus was exasperated
Parents’ prayer 2 with them to the point that He said, “How long must
Kids talk with God 3 I put up with you?” Yet He still continued to mentor
Speak a blessing 4 them in the “little faith” they had (Matthew 17:14-21).
Memory verses 4 Thank you for Your unending patience with all of us.
Kick-off craft 5
Bible stories 5 Please forgive me for my impatience, especially when
Creative discipline 7 . God, I ask that You will enable me to have
Hands-on options 8 patience with the everyday innocent and not-so-
innocent failings of my children. It is my job to teach
them how to be Your little disciples. Please enable
me to reprimand my children and restore them with
gentleness and mercy as You do. Thank you, that
with Your help, I can be patient as You are. Not a day
goes by, that I don’t need Your Holy Spirit poured out
in me so I can be Christlike in my patience, especially
with those who live in our home, or .
(List any other items that challenge your patience
personally).

Lord Jesus, I pray You would help me to put up with

others, to forgive whatever complaints I have with
them and forgive as You forgave me (Colossians 3:13).
To live in way that is worthy of You and to bear fruit
that is pleasing to You, I need to be strengthened
with all power according to Your glorious might
(Colossians 1:10-12).

I pray as and grow in You, that

they will be patient with everyone, not paying back
wrong for wrong but instead, they will always try to

© 2012 Focus on the Family (Canada) Association. All rights reserved. 2 Patience | Kids of Integrity
be kind to others (1 Thessalonians 5:14b-15). When Kids talk with God
things are not going their way, they may be tempted Use this section to help your children learn to reach
to be impatient with You or others. Please give out to God in all things. The sample prayers all
them the faith to trust in Your perfect timing, the begin with “Dear God,” however, you may use any
patience to wait on You, and the strength to be joyful other names for God your children are comfortable
in hope, patient in affliction and faithful in prayer with (i.e. Jesus, Father God, Lord Jesus, Heavenly
(Romans 12:12, Psalm 130:5). As circumstances Father, Abba Father, Lord).
and people are difficult, I ask that and
will remember to come to You for help If your children are ready to pray original prayers,
when they are tempted to be impatient. In Jesus’ you may wish to use the Bible verses provided under
name, I pray against any plan Satan would have “Scripture-guided prayer for children.”
to cause impatience to take root in my children’s
lives. Rather, I ask that You shape their characters, Sample prayers
through the power of Your Holy Spirit, so they will Dear God, thank You for showing me Your love by
be patient and gracious as You are Lord, I pray that being patient with me. Please help me to show others
as a family we could be completely humble and I love them by being patient, too. Amen.
gentle, patient, and bearing with one another in love
(Ephesians 4:2). I ask that our love for You and each Dear God, I have been finding it hard to wait for
other would be expressed as patience and kindness . Please help me to be more patient. Amen.
(1 Corinthians 13:3-4). Please send Your Holy Spirit
to work in us so others can see Your love in us, by the Dear God, I have been bothered by .
way we are patient with each other. Amen. Please help me to be more patient with him/her.
Amen.
Scripture-guided prayer for parents
Read and pray through one or more of the selected Dear God, please send Your Holy Spirit to give me
Scriptures under each heading. Focus on listening to God the fruit of Your Spirit, especially patience. Amen.
and allowing His Spirit to direct you as you pray.
Dear God, I have been impatient. Please forgive me
Character focus and send Your Holy Spirit to help me to be patient
Begin by letting God know how much you appreciate like You are. Amen.
His patience and forgiveness.
Nehemiah 9:5-6,29-31 | Isaiah 54:7-10 | Dear God, I have sinned in the way I .
Jeremiah 33:6-9 | 1 Timothy 1:15-17 | 2 Peter 3:9,14-15 Please forgive me and help me to remember that love
is patient and kind (1 Corinthians 13:4a). Amen.
Heart search
Acknowledge when and how you lack patience. Dear God, are there ways I am impatient? Please
Psalm 37:7-8 | Proverbs 14:29 | Proverbs 15:18 | show me so I can say sorry. Amen.
1 Corinthians 13:4-5 | Colossians 3:13
Dear God, please make me more like You. Please
Gratitude send Your Holy Spirit to help me to be patient. Amen.
Thank God for ways you have seen patience
exhibited in your family.

Family requests
Ask God to enable you and your children to
be patient.
Proverbs 19:11 | Ephesians 4:2‑3 | Colossians 1:10‑14 |
Colossians 3:12‑14 | 1 Thessalonians 5:14‑15

© 2012 Focus on the Family (Canada) Association. All rights reserved. 3 Patience | Kids of Integrity
Scripture-guided prayer for children Memory verses
Read through one of the selected Scriptures under each Memorizing Scripture with your children helps
heading and help your children pray based on the verse God’s Spirit bring about lasting change. Choose a
you read. Encourage them to listen to God and allow His verse that your kids can learn in a pre-determined
Spirit to guide them as they pray. period of time. Aim to review the verse at least once
every day.
Character focus
Begin by letting God know how much you appreciate Psalm 37:7 “Be still before the Lord and wait patiently
His patience and forgiveness. for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways,
Psalm 78:38 | 1 Timothy 1:16 | 2 Peter 3:9 when they carry out wicked schemes.”

Heart search Proverbs 14:29 “A patient man has great

Acknowledge when and how you are impatient. understanding, but a quick-tempered man displays
Proverbs 15:18 | 1 Corinthians 13:4-5 | Colossians 3:13 folly.”

Gratitude Proverbs 15:18 “A hot-tempered man stirs up

Thank God for ways you have been patient. dissension, but a patient man calms a quarrel.”

Personal requests Proverbs 16:32 “Better a patient man than a warrior,

Ask God to help you, your siblings and your parents a man who controls his temper than one who takes a
to be patient. city.”
Proverbs 19:11 | Ephesians 4:2 | Colossians 3:12
Proverbs 19:11 “A man’s wisdom gives him patience; it
is to his glory to overlook an offence.”
Speak a blessing
Your affirmation will give tremendous Proverbs 25:15 “Through patience a ruler can be
encouragement to your children as they strive to persuaded, and a gentle tongue can break a bone.”
grow in the area of patience. Use this section as a
reminder to “speak a blessing” when you see this Romans 12:12 “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction,
godly characteristic in your son or daughter. faithful in prayer.”

• is a patient boy/girl. 1 Corinthians 13:4 “Love is patient, love is kind. . . .”

• Patience is a quality I admire so much. Thank Galatians 5:22-23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love,
you for being patient, . joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
gentleness and self-control. Against such things
• Awesome job being patient, ! there is no law.”
The Bible says you are better than a warrior
or someone who can’t control their temper Ephesians 4:2 “Be completely humble and gentle; be
(Proverbs 16:32)! patient, bearing with one another in love.”

• , you are doing well to wait so quietly. Colossians 3:13 “Bear with each other and forgive
I know it can be hard to wait when you would whatever grievances you have against one other.
rather have something right away. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”

• You have done so well to wait . I am Colossians 1:10-12 “And we pray this in order that
proud of your patience, and so is God. you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please
Him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work,
growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened

© 2012 Focus on the Family (Canada) Association. All rights reserved. 4 Patience | Kids of Integrity
with all power according to His glorious might so that one of the ways God shows His love for us is by
you may have great endurance and patience, and being patient with us.
joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified
you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the 4 Read 2 Peter 3:9: “The Lord is not slow in
kingdom of light.” keeping his promise, as some understand
slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting
1 Thessalonians 5:14 “And we urge you, brothers, anyone to perish, but everyone to come to
warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help repentance.”
the weak, be patient with everyone.”
5 Add another link to the first one with the words
2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slow in keeping His “I love you.” Tell your children you love them and
promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient that we can show our love for others by being
with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone patient with them, too. Read 1 Corinthians 13:4a.
to come to repentance.”
6 Add a heart shaped link each time you find more
James 5:7-8 “Be patient, then, brothers, until the ways you can demonstrate love to others by
Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land being patient.
to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for
the autumn and spring rains. You too, be patient and 7 Record on the paper hearts the way the family
stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near.” member showed patience as it is added to the
chain. For example, a child waiting patiently for
a parent to serve his/her meal shows Mom and
Kick-off craft Dad the child loves them. Write, “
For this kick-off craft, you will make a paper chain waited patiently for supper to be served. He/She
of heart-shaped links. This activity is based on showed Mom he/she loves her.”
2 Peter 3:9 and 1 Corinthians 13:4. God shows His
love for us by being patient with us. We can show To review, read through the chain link hearts
our love for others by being patient with them, as and recall the instances when family members
God is. demonstrated love by being patient with each other.
Pray and thank God for the ways He has helped
Patience heart chain family members to be patient.
Directions
1 Write your selected memory verse on a
heart-shaped piece of paper. Use this paper Bible stories
as a starting point for a paper chain of Choose one Bible story that is most appropriate
heart-shaped links. for your children. Before reading aloud, take a few
minutes to review the story. If the Bible passage
2 To make a chain link heart, cut a strip of is too complex for your kids, paraphrase the story
construction paper 2 cm wide and 30 cm long. yourself or use the summary provided under “key
Fold it in half. Staple it 0.5 to 1 cm above the fold concepts.”
to make the bottom point of the heart. Open
the paper so it makes the shape of the letter God is good
“V.” Bring the outside edges of the V together to Read Nehemiah 9.
form the upper curves of the heart. Staple these
ends together 0.5 to 1 cm from their ends to In personal preparation read Nehemiah 9, focusing on
complete the heart. verses 7-31. Then read appropriate sections aloud to your
children. Close by reading verses 29-31.
3 Start your chain with one heart-shaped link.
On it, write “God loves you.” Tell your children

© 2012 Focus on the Family (Canada) Association. All rights reserved. 5 Patience | Kids of Integrity
Questions for discussion The patient farmer
1. What good things did God do for the Israelites? Read James 5:7-9 and Mark 4:18-19.

2. How did they try His patience? Questions for discussion

1. How long does it take for a crop to grow?
3. What did God do?
2. What would happen if the farmer tried to
4. What good things do your parents do for you? harvest his crop too early?

5. Is there anything you do to continually disobey 3. What would happen if the farmer got tired of
your parents and try their patience? waiting and ploughed the field before it had a
chance to rain?
6. Do you think this tries God’s patience, too?
4. What kind of crop would God like to see growing
Key concepts in our lives?
God loved and cared for the Israelites, and we (your
parents) love and care for you. When the Israelites 5. What kind of harvest does God want us to have?
disobeyed God, He was very patient with them, but
in the end He had no choice but to discipline them. 6. What stops our lives from being fruitful?
You probably expect us to do good things for you, (Mark 4:18-19)
but you can also expect that if you disobey us, we
will discipline you, too. One way we may do this is by Key concepts
removing privileges like treats and toys. Our lives are like a different kind of farm. God wants
us to be patient in helping Him bring in a harvest of
Jesus is patient people for His kingdom. Every time someone asks
Read 1 Timothy 1:15-16 and 2 Peter 3:9. God to forgive their sins and tells Him they want
Jesus Christ as the leader of their life, it is part of the
Questions for discussion harvest for God’s kingdom. When we show God’s
1. How hard is it to wait for a special visitor to love to others and/or tell them that God loves them,
come and visit? we are “farming“ for God.

2. What happens if they are late? Is God unfair?

Read Habakkuk 3.
3. What is Jesus waiting for people to do?
Note: If your kids like drama, they will love this story.
4. How is Jesus patient with us? Read with lots of expression! Prior to reading the passage,
share with your children the history of Habakkuk’s time
Key concepts found in the summary section.
Paul talks about how Jesus displays unlimited
patience, waiting for people to confess their sins. Questions for discussion
God has a lot of patience. Every day He waits for 1. Does life ever seem like it is unfair?
people to tell Him they are sorry they have sinned.
God is so patient that He keeps waiting. He loves us 2. Do you ever feel like your brother, sister or
all so much that He doesn’t want anyone to miss out someone at school always gets away with
on having his or her sins forgiven (2 Peter 3:9). being bad?

Key concepts
From the book of Habbakuk, we learn that Habbakuk
was deeply concerned about the wickedness, strife

© 2012 Focus on the Family (Canada) Association. All rights reserved. 6 Patience | Kids of Integrity
and oppression in Judah. The thing Habbakuk “David was a warrior, but he went to God in prayer!”
found even more troubling was that it seemed God Then have them fold their hands into a praying
was doing nothing about it. Even though Habakkuk position and talk to God about what is bothering
was not seeing the results he expected, he waited them. They can select one of the kids talk with God
patiently and rejoiced in God. Likewise, when it prayers to pray.
seems like life is not fair and God is letting others
get away with being bad, be patient and remember
Habbakuk. Remember that God will eventually bring Creative discipline
punishment on those who do wrong. It is not our Few parents enjoy their God-given responsibility of
job to punish wrongdoers, but God’s. It is our job to disciplining their children, and even fewer children
be patient. enjoy being on the receiving end. The Bible tells us
to expect discipline to be uncomfortable, but also
Being patient with others promises positive results. This section will provide
Read Psalm 37:1-8 and Colossians 3:13. you with innovative suggestions to use when
correcting your children, to help them learn to
Questions for discussion practice patience.
1. When do you find it easy to get mad?
Biblical basis
2. What do people do that bothers you and tempts God sometimes used time when He needed to teach
you to be impatient? people a lesson. The Israelites wandered 40 years in
the desert. Jonah spent three days in the belly of a
3. What does the Bible say about getting mad great fish. Sometimes time is the best teacher.
and fretting?
Suggested disciplinary action
4. What did David do when he was frustrated with When your child is impatient, make sure he/she
the behaviour of other people and when he felt has to wait doubly long for what they have asked
like things weren’t fair? for. While they are waiting, you can help them
practice their memory verse. If it is a significant
5. How will you remember to “put up with” that problem, do not give your child what he/she has been
behaviour or person in the future? impatient about.

6. What will you do to help you remember to go Affirmation

to God? Remind your child of Proverbs 16:32: “Better a
patient man than a warrior, a man who controls his
Key concepts temper than one who takes a city.” Pray with your
It can get frustrating when it seems like someone else child, asking God to help him/her to be strong like a
is “getting away with” causing trouble. Often, when warrior and fight off the temptation to be impatient.
someone does something wrong, we want to punish
that person ourselves. But the Bible says that fretting
and getting angry only leads to evil. When David got
angry with people, he talked to God (Psalm 37:1-8).

God wants us to put up with each other and forgive

whatever complaints we have about each other. He
wants us to forgive as He forgave us (Colossians 3:13).
A suggestion to help your children remind themselves
that they are “putting up” with someone is to have
your children clench their hands into fists, as though
they are preparing for a boxing match. Have them say,

© 2012 Focus on the Family (Canada) Association. All rights reserved. 7 Patience | Kids of Integrity
Hands-on options her garden could grow all kinds of wonderful things
In the busyness of day-to-day life, we often forget to that she had eaten from her grandparents’ garden.
look for opportunities to teach our children God-
honouring character traits. These ideas require Planting patience
very little preparation, making it easy for you to Soon, Kari’s mother brought her to buy the seeds.
share some simple but memorable lessons with “You can choose four different plants to grow,”
your kids. Read over the options at the beginning Kari’s mother explained. Kari decided to plant
of your week and choose one or two that will fit carrots, peas, and strawberries because they were
your schedule. her some of her favourite foods. She also wanted
to grow some pumpkins because she loved the big
Patience makes perfect leafy vines and the golden yellow flowers.
creative crafts
Choose a craft that requires careful and patient work. When they came home, Kari was ready to put the
Work at it together! Use it as an opportunity to talk seeds in the ground. “Not so quick, sweetheart,” her
to your children about patience. mom said. “First, we must prepare the soil so the
seeds will be happy where you put them. We need
The Canadian Oxford Dictionary defines patience as to throw away old weeds and break up any hard
“calm endurance of hardship, provocation, pain, delay, clumps of dirt we find.”
etc.” and as “tolerant perseverance.” For a young
child, patience can be defined as “keeping going, After they had cleared the site, Kari was about
even if things get hard; staying calm when someone to start putting the seeds in the ground, when
or something is bothering you; and waiting calmly for her mom said, “Wait! We need to read the seed
things.” package and see how deep the seeds need to be
placed in the soil.” Kari sighed. She was surprised
For young children, working at a challenging craft how long it took to plant a garden.
requires patience because it can be tempting to get
frustrated or quit if the project does not take shape Kari’s mother helped her measure one-cm-deep
quickly or as they had envisioned it. Ideas include furrows in the soil where she planted the seeds.
gluing small objects, threading beads, drawing a Then, Kari watered the carrot, the peas, the
grid and colouring the grid squares in a pattern. Talk strawberry plants and each hill of pumpkins.
about how the patience you used while putting the
craft together paid off in the end with how satisfying Now that the garden was finally done, Kari’s mom
it was to complete the project. Talk about how the went inside, and Kari stayed outside to admire her
craft would have looked differently if you had not garden. She wondered how the seeds were doing
been so patient with it. and decided to check on the pumpkins. She dug a
little hole where she thought the pumpkin seeds
Patience fruit were. “I wonder if they liked the water. Maybe they
drive time or any time are sprouting already,” Kari thought. Her mom
Tell your children a story about a child who looked out the window and called to Kari, “What
experiences the challenges and joys of growing their are you doing, Sweetie? You just planted those
own little garden. Kids love these impromptu stories, seeds. Why are you digging them up?”
especially if it fills the time during a car ride. Here is a
sample story called “Kari’s garden”: “Oh Mommy,” explained Kari, “I was just checking
to see if they liked the water enough to sprout.”
Kari’s garden
Kari loved springtime because she loved looking for “Gardeners have to be patient, Kari,” her mother
little green leaves sprouting out of the ground. One replied. ”Your seeds will not start to sprout for a
spring, Kari’s mom surprised her by telling her that few days yet.” Kari sighed again and decided to go
she could grow her own garden. Kari hoped that

© 2012 Focus on the Family (Canada) Association. All rights reserved. 8 Patience | Kids of Integrity
 into the house. She had no idea gardens could take them. She picked a male flower and sprinkled the
so long. pollen into the female flowers to make sure that
little pumpkins would form. When her father
Growing patience saw her doing this, he called her his friendly
That night, Kari dreamed about her garden and the little bumblebee.
magnificent fruit and vegetables it produced. In
the morning, Kari looked out the window and saw “Dad,” she asked. “Does God think I am impatient
a patch of black dirt where they had planted the because I am helping the bees do their job? Would
seeds. Kari had to wait for almost a week before He be mad?”
any seeds sprouted.
”No, honey,” he answered. “The kind of impatience
Soon, the carrots came up. Kari thought they looked that doesn’t please God is the kind that comes
like baby carrots. Ever so carefully, Kari pulled one along with stamping of feet, whining, crying
up. All she saw was a teeny tiny white root that or a combination all three called a tantrum.”
didn’t look at all like a baby carrot. Kari watched Unfortunately, Kari knew exactly what he meant.
and waited for the pumpkin leaves to show too. It
took a little longer for them to sprout, but Kari was Fruit of the Spirit harvest
proud of herself for not digging down into the hill to As fall came, and the pumpkins in Kari’s garden
take a look. were plump and starting to turn orange, something
very good and very bad happened all in the same
Kari was not so patient with the strawberries. When day. Kari’s two-year-old cousin, Benny, saw her
one turned the slightest bit pink, she gently picked beautiful pumpkins and asked, “One for Benny?”
it and tried to eat it. She put it in her mouth, only After seeing how her dad had cut a pumpkin off
to find she had to spit it out! The taste was so sour! the vine for her, Kari got the scissors and cut a nice,
Her mom saw Kari’s reaction. She smiled and said, round pumpkin for Benny.
“I guess gardeners have to grow patience as well as
fruits and vegetables.” Kari laughed, too. As they were walking towards the house to show
his parents, Kari saw Benny throw the pumpkin on
Finally one day, Kari noticed the baby peas forming the ground. It splattered all over the concrete patio.
on the vines. “What cute little pods!” she thought. Benny laughed, but Kari wanted to scream and cry
“Maybe I should open one to see what is inside.” and jump up and down and shout. The very good
Can you guess what she found? You can imagine part of the day was that she didn’t.
Kari’s disappointment when all she found were
eight tiny peas, each the size of the head of a pin. “I “Dear God,” she prayed, “please give me the same
am going to get really good at practicing patience kind of patience that Grandma has.” Kari had tears
this summer,” she told her dad when she showed in her eyes when the parents came out to see what
him the miniature peas. Benny was laughing about.

Tantrums don’t please God “Ball broke,” laughed Benny. Then Kari started to
Kari was also enjoying watching the progress on laugh, too. Benny had thought the pumpkin she
her pumpkin patch. Under each “female” flower, had given him was a ball. That is why he threw it
she would find a little green ball the size of a small on the ground. Kari was so glad that she hadn’t
marble. Her dad explained that when the bees took been impatient and yelled at him. It had been an
nectar from the “male” flower, its pollen would stick innocent mistake.
to the bee and pollinate the “female” flower so it
could turn into a pumpkin. Later, when Benny was leaving to go home, Kari’s
mom helped her pick another pumpkin to send
Some days, Kari would wonder if the bees were home with Benny. Kari explained that he was
doing their job. So Kari decided she could help

© 2012 Focus on the Family (Canada) Association. All rights reserved. 9 Patience | Kids of Integrity
 supposed to eat it, not bounce it. Benny laughed gentleness and self-control. Against such things
and said, “Tank oo, Kari. You are my best cousin!” there is no law.”

Kari’s parents both gave her a big hug after their “Patient Polly tossed a bally”
company drove off. “Kari,” said her mom. “I really physical activity
do see that you are letting God grow one of the Standing in a circle with a ball, try to accomplish a
fruits of his Spirit in your heart.” set number of tosses to each other without dropping
the ball. Say the rhyme below as you throw the ball,
“Can you guess which one, Mom?” Kari asked. taking turns deciding what to eat for the treat when
you are done practicing patience. You may also
Smiling, her mom said, “Let me guess . . . patience?” change the person’s name in the rhyme. For example,
Kari smiled, too, and thought, “Dear God, thank “Patient Mary tossed a cherry.”
You for growing patience fruit in my heart this
summer!” Patient Polly tossed a bally.
This is what she said: “Are you ready for my throw?”
Puzzling patience Things go better when we’re patient,
creative crafts this is how I know.
As you work on these activities, use this time to I throw, you catch – then we all eat cookie dough.
discuss what patience is. For a young child, patience
can be defined as keeping going, even if things get Predetermine how many passes you want to
hard; staying calm when someone or something is complete and what the reward will be when you meet
bothering you; and waiting calmly for things. your goal. Encourage each thrower to be patient. Talk
about how being patient can help you accomplish
Mini-jigsaw the task. Emphasize that if you are impatient and
Choose a challenging puzzle to complete with throw the ball quickly before the other person is
your children. Even if this project takes a day ready to catch it, it makes reaching the goal harder
or two, ensure that patient work pays off with a for everyone. Do not set an overly lofty goal or this
completed project. activity may try the patience of the parents more
than the children!
Family photo
Many photo labs make “picture puzzles” from your Rewarding cotton balls
choice of a family photograph. While completing any time
the puzzle, you will see the picture of each family Start by decorating a clear bottle or jar with
member take shape. Ask your children what fruit stickers or pictures. Explain the connection
“patience” looks like and if they think others can see between patience and the fruit of the Spirit
patience in them. (Galatians 5:22-23). Tell your children that each time
they are able to wait patiently for something, you will
Create your own puzzle give them a cotton ball for their bottle or jar. Explain
You can make your own puzzle using a picture of that when we are soft-hearted towards one another
fruit. Glue a glossy magazine picture of fruit on to like the soft cotton, we will be patient with each
cardboard and cut it out randomly. Your children other, rather than short-tempered or easily irritated.
may be able to help with the random cutting. As you Each child’s goal is to see if they can fill his/her jar to
complete the puzzle, talk about how patience is one the top. Pray one of the kids talk with God prayers
of the fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). with your children to encourage them before you
begin awarding cotton balls.
Relevant Scripture
Galatians 5:22-23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, There is a famous exercise for diffusing anger that
joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, requires a person to count to 10. Most of us forget
to do it. Instead of counting to 10, you could have

© 2012 Focus on the Family (Canada) Association. All rights reserved. 10 Patience | Kids of Integrity
your children count the cotton balls in his/her jar as a seconds; and waiting patiently when you have asked
patience exercise. for an item to be passed. Talk about how mealtime
is more enjoyable when we show patience and use
Alternatively, when you see your children being respectful manners.
tempted to be impatient, encourage them to say their
Bible memory verse. For a Biblical perspective, read Give patience a fighting chance
aloud your choice of the Bible verses listed below. drive time or any time
Let you children know beforehand that when their Watch for opportunities to talk about how patience
container is full, you will celebrate by playing some calms a quarrel (Proverbs 15:18). You can even use
silly games with the cotton balls. Ideas include using a real quarrel as an example. In this case, discuss
tape to stick the cotton balls onto parents’ faces or how patience could have stopped it. Talk about how
having a snowball fight with them. hot tempers stir up trouble and discord. Review
how responding with love and patience could have
Relevant Scripture changed the situation. The discussion questions are
Galatians 5:22-23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, provided to help stimulate dialogue.
joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
gentleness and self-control. Against such things Questions for discussion
there is no law.” • What caused the fight?

Proverbs 14:17 “A quick-tempered man does foolish • Did anyone try to stop it? If so, how?
things, and a crafty man is hated.”
• How would it have turned out differently if one
Proverbs 16:32 “Better a patient man than a warrior, person had been patient?
a man who controls his temper than one who takes a
city.” • How would it have turned out differently if both
people involved had been patient?
Proverbs 17:27 “A man of knowledge uses words
with restraint, and a man of understanding is even- • Did anyone try to show love?
tempered.”
• How does the verse, “Love is patient, love is
Proverbs 25:28 “Like a city whose walls are broken kind” apply to this quarrel?
down is a man who lacks self-control.”
Relevant Scripture
Proverbs 29:11 “A fool gives full vent to his anger, but Proverbs 15:18 “A hot-tempered man stirs up
a wise man keeps himself under control.” dissension, but a patient man calms a quarrel.”

Proverbs 29:20 “Do you see a man who speaks in 1 Corinthians 13:4 “Love is patient, love is kind. . . ”
haste? There is more hope for a fool than for him.”
1 Peter 4:8 “Above all, love each other deeply,
Ecclesiastes 7:9 “Do not be quickly provoked in your because love covers over a multitude of sins.”
spirit, for anger resides in the lap of fools.”
Growing “patience candy”
Mealtime manners science with a twist
fun with food This science-related activity is based on
Mealtime is a good time to practice patience. Colossians 1:10-12.
Suggestions include waiting until everyone is sitting
down and has been served prior to beginning eating; You will need one cup of water, three cups of sugar,
eating slowly using utensils; waiting patiently until a glass jar, a paper clip, food colouring (optional), a
everyone is finished their first helpings before having paper towel or coffee filter, and wool or cotton string.

© 2012 Focus on the Family (Canada) Association. All rights reserved. 11 Patience | Kids of Integrity
 1 As the adult supervising, boil a cup of water on send His Holy Spirit to grow patience in the hearts of
the stovetop. your family members.

2 Remove the pot from the stove and have Note: For a sugar-free alternative, encourage your
your children help you stir in the three cups children to be patient as they grow a flowering plant and
of sugar, one teaspoon at a time. (This is the wait for it to bloom.
first patience exercise.) As your children stirs
each teaspoon of sugar until it dissolves, talk Relevant Scripture
about situations where it is hard to be patient. Colossians 1:10-12 “And we pray this in order that
Encourage them to stir diligently. (If the sugar you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please
is not stirred in gradually, your “patience candy” Him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work,
will not form properly.) Once sugar starts to growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened
clump at the bottom of the pot, enough has with all power according to His glorious might so that
been added. you may have great endurance and patience, and
joyfully giving thanks to the Father who has qualified
3 Next, pour your sugar-saturated solution into a you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the
clear glass jar. If you wish, now is the time to use kingdom of light.”
food coloring to tint the sugar water.
Patience in nature
4 To create a growing surface for the crystals, tie getting into nature
a wool or cotton string to the middle of a pencil. Animals display significant patience while incubating
Tie a paper clip or similar sterile, lead-free their eggs. Many go for significant lengths of time
weight to the other end of the string. without food and water while waiting for their eggs to
hatch. Use the questions for discussion to introduce
5 Dangle the string into the sugar solution, making your children to the idea of birds being patient. Birds
sure the weight is very close to, but not touching usually incubate their eggs for at least a couple of
the bottom of the jar. weeks prior to their chicks hatching.

6 Move the jar to a location in your house where it • How long does a bird have to sit on her eggs
will be undisturbed, but can be observed closely. before they hatch?
Cover the top with a paper towel or coffee filter
to protect it from contamination. • What would happen if the bird became
impatient and went away, leaving her eggs for
7 All that is left to do is watch and wait. About too long?
24 hours afterward, you should see crystals
forming. Crystals will continue to form until the • Is there anything you have a hard time
sugar is used up. waiting for?

8 Finally, remove the crystals and allow them to For a patience reminder, ask your children to practice
dry. You can save them or eat them. making a bird noise or chirping the next time they
are tempted to be impatient. You may also want
As you enjoy eating or admiring the crystals, take to start chirping like a bird as a reminder when
time to discuss with your children that it is God’s you see a child beginning to get impatient. Birds
power in us that helps us to be patient. Just as the can remind all of us that being patient has its own
crystals did not grow right away, sometimes it takes reward. For their patience, the birds are rewarded
time for the Fruit of the Spirit to grow in us. Explain with a nest full of baby birds. Likewise, when family
that being patient is hard, but with God’s help it is members are patient with each other, their reward is
possible. Talk about how being patient pleases God. a peaceful household.
Finish by praying with your children, asking God to

© 2012 Focus on the Family (Canada) Association. All rights reserved. 12 Patience | Kids of Integrity
Fruit ripening
fun with food
Buy some green fruit. Have your children taste them
when they are green, then wait a few days and taste
them when they have ripened. Explain that life is like
waiting for fruit to ripen. Sometimes when we are
impatient for things and demand them right away,
the end result will be that they will not be seem as
good as if we had waited.

Give examples that are applicable to your children’s

lives, like a birthday cake. When a pretty cake is
decorated for a birthday party, it is hard to wait until
the guests arrive to eat some, but it would be very
disappointing to serve friends a birthday cake with a
chunk taken out of it.

Recommended resources
For a list of children’s stories that reinforce the
theme of this lesson, consult the home page for the
patience lesson at Kidsofintegrity.com.

© 2012 Focus on the Family (Canada) Association. All rights reserved. 13 Patience | Kids of Integrity