Dean Little recently received a check that had been in the mail for over 5 years.

When he opened the letter, Little found a check for $90.18 inside. The letter included a note asking him not to cash the check until August 29, August 29, 1998 that is. The old envelope caught Little's eye when it arrived because it had a canceled 32-cent stamp on it. The postmark was August 24, 1998. No one knows where the letter has been for the past 5 years. Authorities speculate it might have been lost at an out-of-town processing center, stuck in a piece of equipment, or behind a machine or counter.

Little is sales manager for the Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania area Schwan's ice cream business. He says the letter was from a former customer making a payment on his account. Since the original check was considered lost, the family wrote the company another check settling their account. Little says he remembers calling about the amount owed in 1998 and being told, "The check is in the mail." He says, "They weren't lying."

—Associated Press, Payment Was in the Mail, for Five years, January 21, 2004, Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell.

Isaiah 40:31 (NASB) Yet those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary.

In his Best-Selling book, The Purpose-Driven Life, Rick Warren writes, “When God wants to make a mushroom, he does it overnight, but when he wants to make a giant oak, he takes a hundred years. Great souls are grown through struggles and storms and seasons of suffering.”

James 1:4 (MsgB) “So don't try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.”

For more information on the Purpose-Driven Life, go to http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0310205719/fm082-20

In his book, “In Search of Morality … Living a Fulfilled Life from the Inside Out." Robert A. Schuller writes, “It may increase your patience to realize that every minute you have is another gift from God. The minute you are living through right now is a gift from God. So when God tells you to wait for Him, He is perfectly within His rights. He is asking you to give back to Him what He has already given to you."

—http://www.hourofpower.org/booklets/bookletdetail.cfm?ArticleID=1010 Illustration by Jim L. Wilson

Psalm 37:1-11 NASB “Do not fret because of evildoers, Be not envious toward wrongdoers. [2] For they will wither quickly like the grass, And fade like the green herb. [3] Trust in the Lord, and do good; Dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness. [4] Delight yourself in the Lord; And He will give you the desires of your heart. [5] Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, and He will do it. [6] And He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, And your judgment as the noonday. [7] Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man who carries out wicked schemes. [8] Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; Do not fret, it leads only to evildoing. [9] For evildoers will be cut off, But those who wait for the Lord, they will inherit the land. [10] Yet a little while and the wicked man will be no more; And you will look carefully for his place, and he will not be there. [11] But the humble will inherit the land, And will delight themselves in abundant prosperity.”

For More information on In Search of Morality, go to http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/080071735X/fm082-20

The answer is Joe Treala. What is the question? What Jeopardy reject recently won a million dollars on ABC's "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?" Treala tried out for Jeopardy several times, but was never invited on the show.

The million dollar question was, "What insect shorted out an early supercomputer and inspired the term, "computer bug?" The answer "moth" was worth a million dollars to the 25-year-old customer service representative for a computer company.

Treala took his time answering this and other questions, but in the end, his patient ways paid for him-a million different ways.

—http://abcnews.go.com/sections/entertainment/DailyNews/millionaire000324.html Illustration by Jim L. Wilson

"And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not." (Galatians 6:9 KJV)

A Kenyan city councilor is still waiting for an answer to a question he asked five years ago. In 2000, Godwin Kipkemoi Chepkurgor wrote to President Bill Clinton asking to marry the President's daughter Chelsea. According to African custom, Chepkurgor offered President Clinton 40 goats and 20 cows for his daughter's hand.

Chepkurgo, a city councilor in Nakuru, wrote Clinton during a presidential visit to Kenya. He told of his plans for a grand wedding presided over by South African Nobel Peace Prize winner Archbishop Desmond Tutu. Chepkurgor says, "Had I succeeded in wooing Chelsea, I would have had a grand wedding." The 36 year-old electrical engineering graduate has vowed to remain single until he gets an answer to his proposal to marry the Clinton's 25 year-old daughter. So far, the only thing his letter has done is to prompt security checks on him, his family, and his classmates.

Officials say it is not likely Clinton ever received the offer. A security official told a local paper the letter probably never made it out of the office because authorities thought Chepkurgor "took the joke too far."

—Associated Press, Kenya Man Holds Torch for Chelsea Clinton, July 27, 2005. Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell.

Galatians 6:9 (HCSB) "So we must not get tired of doing good, for we will reap at the proper time if we don't give up."

On October 5, 2005, Ninety-seven year old, Evelyn Greenawald of Anamosa, Iowa, received a postcard that her daughter Sheri mailed to her from Germany. The postcard was a routine communication the same kind that happens every day, in it; Sheri told her how much she loved Europe. What made the event unusual was Sheri had mailed it 27 years earlier.

—http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051011/ap_on_fe_st/late_delivery Illustration by Jim L. Wilson

2 Timothy 3:10 (HCSB) "But you have followed my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, and endurance,"

Have you ever wished you could push a button and change the red light to green so you don't have to wait? Unfortunately, some people are buying such a device. Officials in several states are concerned over rising sales of a device that allows drivers to control an upcoming traffic light from as far away as 1500 feet. The mobile infrared transmitters are intended for emergency personnel, but Internet sales to civilians are making authorities nervous. When a signal changer on a traffic light detects a properly equipped emergency vehicle, the light responds. If it is red, the changer gives vehicles in the other directions a yellow light, followed by a red light. If the light is green, the emergency vehicle is given a longer green light. Police and fire officials have been hearing reports of signal changers being used by civilians in some states.

Usually the specialized devices cost more than $1,000, but some websites sell imitation units for a little as $200. Though the advertisements limit sales to emergency personnel, some broaden the definition to include volunteer fire departments, funeral homes, and private investigators. States such as Texas are seeking to pass laws that make it illegal for anyone except emergency personnel to possess a signal changer. Though it is already illegal to tamper with a traffic control device, Brandon Aghamalian, director of governmental relations for Fort Worth Texas says, "We can't have that type of technology in the wrong hands."

—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, U.S. Officials worry about civilians obtaining traffic-light changers, by Aman Batheja, March 16, 2005. Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell.

Eccles. 7:8 (NLT) "Finishing is better than starting. Patience is better than pride."

Don’t ask China’s sixty-six year old Lian Jiansheng, for compassion. Lian was an observer at a possible suicide jumper event in the city of Guangzhou in southern China. Chen Fuchao had been atop the Haizhu Bridge, threatening to jump for 5 hours.

Officials held up traffic for nearly five hours and a crowd gathered as Chen sat on the bridge, threatening to jump. Lian offered to talk Chen down but police refused. Lian then broke through the police cordon, climbed to where Chen was sitting, shook his hand and pushed him off the bridge.

"I pushed him off because jumpers like Chen are very selfish. Their action violates a lot of public interest," Lian told Xinhua news agency. "They do not really dare to kill themselves. Instead, they just want to raise the relevant government authorities' attention to their appeals."

Chen is recovering from his fall in the hospital; Lian is in police custody at last report.

There is no information on Lian. Beyond his comments, why did he feel compelled to give Chen a hand? Maybe he was in the five-hour traffic tie-up at the bridge and grew weary of waiting for Chen. He decided to do something, even if it was wrong.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/05/23/china.suicide/index.html?imw=Y&iref=mpstoryemail Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell

2 Thessalonians 3:13 (NASB95) But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary of doing good.

A new survey taken in Great Britain has found that a nation known for their ability to wait in line may be losing some of their patience. The results show the average British adult is now only able to stand in line for 10 minutes and 42 seconds before their tempers start to flare. The survey also found that most of those adults reported they hated waiting in line at the supermarket, the post office, and at the airport for check-in and security the most. The study found respondents aged 55 and older became restless almost three minutes quicker than younger adults, but those under 35 were more likely to take out their frustration on those around them in line.

Two-thirds of the respondents said it only made matters worse when those in front of them started dragging their feet. The survey found new trends are emerging because most Brits would rather avoid waiting.. Eight out of ten respondents reported they now pay their bills online and more adults are shopping at night in order to avoid lines. A Council spokeswoman summed up the results saying, “ Our research shows that more of us are waking up to the fact that you can skip the queue altogether, saving time and money by using ‘queue dodging tactics’ like internet shopping, online banking, and paying bills electronically.”

--Do you hate waiting? Get in line.., http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6A400K20101105 ; November 5, 2010. Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell.

Technology may provide us with more ways to avoid it, but God’s word points out there are benefits to waiting.

Isaiah 40:31 (GW) “Yet, the strength of those who wait with hope in the LORD will be renewed. They will soar on wings like eagles. They will run and won't become weary. They will walk and won't grow tired.”

PATIENCE

Pedestrian Aggressiveness Syndrome (PAS) is the name given by psychologists to those who walk in a very brisk and directed manner on busy city sidewalks. The aggressiveness comes when they encounter dawdlers in their path who are intent with their cell phones, either talking or texting. As they pass, they mutter insults and fantasize about violence while displaying a “mean face.”

--The Week, March 4, 2011 p. 7 Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell

Patience remains part of the fruit of the spirit, even in today’s fast-paced technological world. We should allow God’s Spirit to infuse us so that we refuse to allow PAS to become a part of our makeup on the sidewalk, even as we protect ourselves against road rage on the highway.

Galatians 5:22-23 (CEV) (22) God's Spirit makes us loving, happy, peaceful, patient, kind, good, faithful, (23) gentle, and self-controlled. There is no law against behaving in any of these ways.

PATIENCE

In Lead with LUV: A Different Way to Create Real Success, Ken Blanchard and Colleen Barrett write, “I demonstrate love as patience when helping People who are down on their luck by showing them that I care about their problems. I want to help them rebuild their self-confidence so that they can, in turn, do the same for someone else who needs help in the future.”

--Lead with LUV: A Different Way to Create Real Success, p. 107. Illustration by Jim L. Wilson

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (CEV) (4) Love is kind and patient, never jealous, boastful, proud, or (5) rude. Love isn't selfish or quick tempered. It doesn't keep a record of wrongs that others do. (6) Love rejoices in the truth, but not in evil. (7) Love is always supportive, loyal, hopeful, and trusting.

PATIENCE

Sometimes patience is hard to achieve, and sometimes it is even hard to understand why it is necessary. A San Francisco man discovered why it may be prudent though. Impatient with a line of cars that had come to a standstill, he drove his Porsche 911 into an adjacent lane to go around. His high priced sports car was no match for the lane of freshly poured cement. The car sank about a foot and got stuck.

--The Week, March 2, 2012 p. 4 Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell

Galatians 5:22 (ESV) But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,

PATIENCE

After 73 years of working at Macy’s department store in New York City, Rose Syracuse is retiring from her job as an accountant. She took the job when she graduated from high school in 1939. Rose is 92 now, and after falling and breaking a hip, she decided it was time to retire. “On her last day at the store on September 5, Macy’s CEO Terry Lundgren got down on one knee and presented Syracuse with a parting gift; a dozen red roses.”

You know that in those 73 years not all was roses. There were times when she wanted to quit, resign, and stomp out in disgust. Her longevity is a great example of patience and tolerance. --Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell

World, October 6, 2012 p. 19

Colossians 3:12-13 (HCSB) (12) Therefore, God’s chosen ones, holy and loved, put on heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, (13) accepting one another and forgiving one another if anyone has a complaint against another. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you must also ?forgive?.

PATIENCE

A water bill sent out in 1969 was finally returned to the sender, nearly 46 years later. The bill, totaling $1.40 was sent out by the Brunswick and Topsham Water District to a resident of Topsham in October 1969. When it arrived, the customer’s post box had been closed, so the bill should have automatically been returned. However, it didn’t find its way back until this year. The district’s secretary Linda Deacetis said she was quite surprised to receive the bill back, especially since it had a 6-cent stamp on it. She says it is possible the customer has since passed away, so there won’t be much they can do to collect. —Jim L. Wilson & Jim Sandell

Maine water bill for $1.40 sent out in 1969 is returned to sender 46 years later,
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2015/03/16/maine-water-bill-for-140-sent-out-in-16-is-returned-to-sender-46-years-later/?intcmp=HPBucket, Accessed March 16, 2015.
Title: Man finds treasure in postcards he found three decades earlier.

2 Peter 3:9 (HCSB) The Lord does not delay His promise, as some understand delay, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance.

Patience

Burke O’Connell had the words “Super Bowl 50” and “Champs” tattooed on his calf along with his team’s logo. Unfortunately, he got the celebratory tattoo two days before his team, the New England Patriots lost to the Denver Broncos for the AFC Championship title. There would be no Super Bowl for the Patriots.

It wasn’t the first time O’Connell made such a mistake of presumption. One time he got his chin tattooed with the name of a girlfriend just before they broke up.

James warns us against such rashness. Such presumption can have more serious consequences when we forget to wait on God. — Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell

James 4:13–14 (HCSB) Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will travel to such and such a city and spend a year there and do business and make a profit.” ¹⁴ You don’t even know what tomorrow will bring—what your life will be! For you are like smoke that appears for a little while, then vanishes.

Some of the best fans in sports are those who have chosen the Chicago Cubs as their team. They sing “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” year after year and “root, root, root for the Cubbies” as they go another year without a championship. The last time the Cubs won the World Series, “Teddy Roosevelt was president, women could not vote, radio was still in development, and 99.99 percent of the 7 billion people now on Earth had yet to be born.”

The long-suffering Cub fans give an example of being patient and bearing with one another in love. -- Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell

Ephesians 4:2 (HCSB)“with all humility and gentleness, with patience, accepting one another in love,”

Patience

They say, “Patience is a virtue,” in the case of a New Zealand man, it pays. The anonymous man was waiting in line to purchase a lotto ticket, when a man cut in line in front of him. “I wasn’t in any hurry,” he said, “so I let them go ahead and didn’t say anything.”

Patience always pays—usually not in cold hard cash, but in peace of mind.—Jim L. Wilson

Proverbs 14:29 (HCSB) “A patient person shows great understanding, but a quick-tempered one promotes foolishness.”

During the summer of 2016 a tornado destroyed a small neighborhood in the province of Windsor, Ontario. Residents along Riberdy Road had to wait patiently for the repair of their homes.

Ten weeks passed when one of the residents, Greg Trembley had enough. He complained to the insurance company, asking, “When are you going to get the repairs done,’ “How long will it be before you repair my home so I can get off the streets and move back into my home?” The answer he received from the insurance adjuster of “I don’t know,” did not satisfy him —Jim L. Wilson and Douglas Diggs

http:/windsorstar.com/news/local-news/10-weeks-after-tornado-some-riberdy-road-homes-still-need-of-repairs Article written by Brian Cross, Windsor Star. Published November 4, 2016 Accessed November 9, 2016

Habakkuk 1:2 (HCSB) “How long, Lord, must I call for help and You do not listen or cry out to You about violence and You do not save?”

In 2016, the Cubs beat the Cleveland Indians in heart-stopping fashion in Game 7 of the World Series. The faithful fans in Chicago have not just waited a long time; they’ve waited generations for a victory. The World Series win ended a 71-year National League pennant drought and a 108-year World Series championship drought, both of which are Major League Baseball records. This drought is so well-known that as the Cubs advanced into the World Series, the national media attention was unprecedented. Even fans, athletes, and celebrities from other cities felt strong empathy for the plight of the Chicago Cubs fans. —Jim L. Wilson and Ben Hsieh

James 1:12 (HCSB)“A man who endures trials is blessed, because when he passes the test he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him.”

British police found a suspicious object along a highway and closed the road for several hours to protect motorists. A video recorded along the stretch of road showed that the stranded travelers passed the time by playing an extended soccer game in the empty northbound lanes. Thames Valley Police said the road was finally reopened after investigators determined that the object was “some sort of chemical,” but was not explosive. —Jim L. Wilson & Jim Sandell.

Commuters stranded on highway play soccer in the road, by Ben Hooper,

Ephesians 5:16 (CSB) “making the most of the time, because the days are evil.”

The safest bus to ride in Cleveland and Cuyahoga County, Ohio is the one driven by Godwin McNeal. McNeal has driven for the Regional Transit Authority for 40 years, and logged nearly 1.2 million miles without causing an accident. Officials say that is the longest preventable accident-free streak in RTA history. McNeal has driven a 63 foot bus on Cleveland’s Euclid Avenue every weekday for the past five years. He says his secret is being very patient. McNeal plans to retire in 2020 with his streak intact.—Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell

Reddit invites people to post the epiphanies people have while taking a shower. One that caught my attention was WiiSportsEnthusiasts’ observation that “Patience is something you admire in the person behind you, but never in the person ahead of you.” —Jim L. Wilson

https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/shower-thoughts-reddit-march-2018-part-one_us_5a994910e4b089ec35394cbc

Jalen Hurts, became the backup quarterback for the University of Alabama football team when the coach benched him for a freshman during his second National Championship game. Before his demotion, Hurts had led Alabama to a 26-2 record, which included a National Championship.

Most thought he should transfer, but Hurts made the decision to stay at Alabama for his senior year. Hurts decided to trust the process and stayed devoted to the Crimson Tide. In the 2018 championship game, Hurts’ patience paid off. The starting quarterback was injured during the SEC Championship game, and the coach put Hurts into the game. Hurts led Alabama back from a deficit, scoring the winning touchdown himself. —Jim L. Wilson and Brian Hicks

Galatians 6:9 (CSB) “Let us not get tired of doing good, for we will reap at the proper time if we don’t give up.”

Residents of a Brooklyn, N.Y. neighborhood thought an old 1971 Cadillac that had been parked for decades on a side street was an eyesore. Some residents believed it was a landmark. One morning they all discovered the old car had been towed. The residents were shocked, the rusted vehicle hadn’t moved since 1994 and appeared packed to its ceiling with coffee cups, old newspapers, and other trash.

Some things just take a long time to happen. One of the fruits of the spirit is patience. Hopefully you won’t have to wait more than 20 years for the junk to be towed from your life. –Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell.

Galatians 5:22 (CSB) “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,”