AFFIRMATION: I am patient and calm in all I do.

pg. 70

THE MAGIC POTION>> Lesson 13: Learning Patience

Affirmation: I am patient and calm in all I do.

Getting to the Heart of the Lesson

Patience is tuning into the eternal flow of divine consciousness that underlies all life.

Most children would probably define being patient as waiting a long time for something they want, or perhaps putting up with something unpleasant without complaining. Patience is a trait highly valued by parents and teachers, not by spirited young people who live for the moment.

The slow-moving currents in the ocean depths move in a rhythm untouched by the ever-changing surface of the sea. As we tune into patience and learn to feel a deeper rhythm, we discover that the eternal currents of the cosmic ocean of energy also flow unchanging, despite the storms that blow in material realities.

Practicing patience is an important balance to children’s rapid movements, rapid thoughts, rapid growth, and natural desire for the fun that awaits them in the next moment.

Teacher Reflection: Questions

Reflect on the following questions:

• Do you consider yourself a patient person?

• Are you more patient in some areas of your life than others? For example, are you more patient with your co-workers than you are with your family members or vice versa?

• Are there times during the day when it is easier to be patient? When are you most likely to be patient? Least likely?

• You’ve heard the adage, “When you’re angry, count to ten.” Next time you feel impatient, “Breathe to

ten” — take ten deep breaths. Your first few breaths may be shallow, but as you continue, your breaths will probably become deeper and longer. As you breathe, imagine yourself diving below life’s turbulent waves to rest in the deep calmness of God’s ocean of peace.

Bible VersesGalatians 5:22-23By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

Quotes

“Patience is the companion of wisdom.” — Saint Augustine

At the bottom of patience is heaven.— Kanuri (African) Proverb

Do you have the patience to wait till your mud settles and the water is clear? Can you remain unmoving till the right action arises by itself?— Lao-Tzu, Tao-te Ching

Patience is never wasted; patience is a process through which a soul passes and becomes precious. Souls who have risen above the world’s limitations and sorrows, the world’s falseness and deception, they are the souls who have passed through patience.— Hazrat Inayat Khan

I. Opening the Lesson

Read the story, The Tiger’s Whisker, and use the discussion questions to relate it to the heart of the lesson. Then introduce the affirmation and ask the children if they can explain what it means. If you need to, explain that the “waves of life” refer to any changes or circumstances that come to us. Just like the waves on the ocean that always move and change, the outward

THE MAGIC POTION>> Lesson 13: Learning Patience parts of our life are always moving and changing. But

deep under the ocean waves, the depths are quiet and calm and move slowly. We can learn to tune into the quiet depths inside of us also, where the divine flow is. That is how we learn patience.

Then introduce the Making Waves Activity.

II. Building the Lesson

Making Waves Activity

Materials needed: approximately three yards of fabric. Blue or green color is best, but any color fabric will do.

Choose two children to be wave makers. If your cloth is wide enough, there could be two wave makers on each end of the fabric, for a total of four. The wave makers sit on the floor with the length of the fabric stretched between them. Gripping the ends of the cloth, they shake it close to the floor to make waves. Line up the rest of the class on one side of the waves and invite them to take turns carefully crossing over the waves to the other side.

Once everyone has had a turn crossing the waves, let someone else hold the cloth so the wave makers can try crossing over as well. Then instruct the wave makers to stand and shake the cloth higher off the floor. Line up the rest of the class on one side of the waves and invite them to take turns crawling under the waves to the other side.

Change wave makers again. Then instruct the class to lie on the floor close to one another and have the wave makers make waves above them. Suggest that everyone visualize being deep in the ocean, where the waves on the surface do not matter. Rotate wave makers if you need to. Then, let everyone lie on the floor without the waves to visualize the ocean deep. Transition to the drawing activity.

Tips:

• Play an ocean sounds recording to add more reality to the pretend waves. Quiet, slow instrumental music is an alternative.

• If possible, turn the lights down when the children are going under the waves and pretending to be deep in the ocean.

• Depending on your children, it might be best to have just the teacher and assistant as the wave makers to prevent over-excitement.

• Help the children visualize the difference between the surface, the shallow water, and the ocean depths. Ask them what lives in each level and give ideas if needed.

> Crabs, sea birds, star fish, and anemones live and ride on waves.

> Kelp, small fish, and sea otter live and swim in surface waters.

> Whales, giant squid, and fish live in the depths.

Ocean Drawing Activity

Materials needed: plain paper, crayons or markers in blue and green color family

Separate out all the blue and green crayons or markers before class. Let the children work together on a large piece of paper or individually on standard-size paper to make ocean pictures. Show them how to divide the paper into three horizontal sections for surface waves, busy shallow waters, and the dark ocean deep. Fold the paper into thirds, or measure and mark with a ruler. Encourage them to color each section with different shades of blue and green. The surface of the ocean is lighter in comparison to the ocean depths where sunlight does not penetrate. With practice, we can move our consciousness into these three different levels.

Tip: This activity can be done while children are waiting their turn at the Fishing with Patience Activity.

III. Closing the Lesson

Fishing with Patience Activity

Materials needed: 3” x 5” cards prepared with words, Adapted from a Korean Folktale

>> Lesson 13: Learning Patience

pg. 71

Mi Cha was glad to be going home. She had traveled with her mother to visit her aunt and uncle in a distant village. Her aunt had many children, and Mi Cha was tired of the noise and the constant activity of her little cousins. At home she was the only child and she could have peace and quiet.

Her mother had been very quiet and thoughtful during most of the three-day journey, but Mi Cha had filled the silence with her own chatter. As they came within sight of the village, her mother stopped and looked at Mi Cha.

“Your aunt needs our help. I have arranged for your youngest cousin to come live with us when rice harvest begins. I don’t know how long he will stay.” Her mother’s eyes were kind, but her voice was firm. There would be no argument.

Mi Cha was horrified. Her youngest cousin was

the one she was happiest to leave. He

tore through the house like a wild animal. He broke everything he touched. He screamed louder than any

child she ever knew. She couldn’t remember one happy moment with him, even when she said good-bye. He had

pulled her hair and stepped on her toes when she tried to give him a

hug.

He was going to live in their house?

Once they arrived at home, Mi Cha

couldn’t even enjoy the quiet; thoughts of her

cousin filled her mind. Her

friends were sympathetic, but

there didn’t seem to be any escape. Then, in the middle of the night, she had an idea.

At dawn, she took her small money bag from her secret place and ran to see the healer who lived in their village. She told the healer the whole story. “I want a potion that will make my cousin nice,” said Mi Cha, and she poured her bag of money on the table. “I know just the potion you need, but it requires a

>> Lesson 13: Learning Patience

pg. 72

paper clips, string, dowels, magnets, tape, something for a screen

Before class, cut 3” x 5” cards in half and write a positive word on each one. For example, joy, happiness, love, peace, calmness, friendship, fun. Be sure to include patience too! You can make multiple cards with the same word. Have enough so every child can have five to ten cards. Attach a metal paper clip to each card.

Make a fishing pole by tying a string on a short stick or dowel, and attach a magnet to the string. Make the string long enough to reach the floor when a child

holds the pole.

Put all the cards on the floor behind a partition, table, or screen. Let the children take turns fishing for a card. When they finish their turn, tape the card they got onto their shirt. Allow everyone to have multiple turns, as time allows.

Close the lesson with some reflection about what was learned about patience. An attitude of patience puts us into the divine flow, which draws to us many positive experiences. Patience is not something we have or don’t have — it’s an eternal reality that we can choose to be part of.

>> THE TIGER’S WHISKER

>> Lesson 13: Learning Patience

very special ingredient that I do not have. You must obtain a tiger’s whisker, or I cannot help you,” the healer explained.

Mi Cha was dismayed; how would she get a tiger’s whisker? But this was her only hope—she couldn’t give up easily. She stopped by the market to buy meat and inquire about any known tiger dens near the village. The butcher was amazed at her question, but he gave her directions to a cave where a large tiger was known to live.

Mi Cha stopped and sat behind a tree a good distance from the mouth of the cave. She didn’t see the tiger, but she sat for a while and then left the meat and went home. The next morning she went again to the cave and her heart beat fast to see the huge beast sleeping in the cave opening. This time she sat quietly in front of the tree and then left the meat. Mi Cha continued to visit the tiger every morning. Each morning she came a little closer, and each time she left some meat.

After many weeks of this, Mi Cha and the tiger sat together in front of the cave one morning. The huge cat purred quietly, and Mi Cha reached her hand out to touch the orange and black coat. She felt a twitch under the soft fur, but the tiger let her hand remain. Eventually, she could visit and sit by the tiger while he ate the meat she brought.

Finally, it was harvest time and Mi Cha knew she must get the whisker. While the tiger slept with his head against her leg, she carefully pulled scissors from her pocket and snipped a whisker. Then, she got to her feet and ran all the way to the healer.

“I have the whisker — I have the tiger whisker!” she cried as she burst through the door.

The old man looked carefully at what Mi Cha held in her hand. “How were you able to get it?” he asked with surprise.

Mi Cha told him all about the tiger that lived in the cave. She explained how she had to work a little each day to win the tiger’s trust. As she finished her tale, the

old man reached out for the tiger’s whisker and threw it into the fire. Mi Cha gasped with horror.

“After weeks of taming that tiger, you threw my only hope in the flames!” she cried.

The healer gently took her hands and said, “Anyone with the patience to tame a tiger doesn’t need a magic potion. Go home and be kind and patient with your cousin, as you were with the tiger.”

As Mi Cha walked home, she thought of her little cousin and the tiger. The tiger had much bigger teeth than her cousin. Perhaps she could be patient. Perhaps she could try to be patient and see what happened.

Discussion Questions

1) What do you think is the hardest thing about being patient?

2) What advice would you give to Mi Cha if you could?

3) Do you think the healer was wise?

>> Lesson 13: Learning Patience

pg. 73

>> THE TIGER’S WHISKER

Lesson Notes:

>> Lesson 13: Learning Patience

pg. 74