Time and patience
“I was taught that the way of progress is neither swift nor easy.” ~Marie Curie
Yesterday afternoon I drove to the grocery to buy more chicken breasts for Coco. Her appetite is poor, thanks in part to the medications she’s taking, but she’ll make an exception for boiled chicken and broth.
Heading down 12 Mile Road, I battled another flood of tears — a frequent but unpredictable occurrence after I witnessed Coco’s accident Saturday night. I was exhausted after another restless night of worry and a long day of caregiving. And I was overwhelmed by the heartbreak of my dog’s pain and the thought of the months it will take for her to walk comfortably again.
Then I noticed the bright yellow bumper sticker on the car ahead of me at the stoplight. At first I assumed it was a student driver sticker. But it simply stated, in bold letters: PLEASE BE PATIENT. It was exactly the message I needed in that moment. ~CL
Cindy La Ferle
Throughout my career, I've worked as a book production editor, travel magazine editor, features writer, and weekly newspaper columnist. My award-winning lifestyles features and essays have appeared in many national magazines and anthologies, including Newsweek, Reader's Digest, The Christian Science Monitor, Writer's Digest, Victoria, Better Homes & Gardens, Bella Grace, and more. My weekly Sunday "Life Lines" column ran for 14 years in The Daily Tribune (Royal Oak, MI) and won a First Place (Local Columns) award from the Michigan Press Association. My essay collection, Writing Home, includes 93 previously published columns and essays focusing on parenthood and family life.
