Be Patient, Find Joy
Mother proves she knows best when she teachers her kids to wait for the good things in life
“Be patient. Good things come to those who wait.”—Regina Margherita Di Meglio, my mamma Thwack was the sound my three-subject Mead notebook made whenever I flung it across the kitchen and it hit the wall. This happened often when I reached third grade and had to learn fractions and long division and solve those dreaded word problems. My mamma would patiently try to help me. But I’d quickly get frustrated at my inability and incomprehension. Then, I’d lose my temper completely and unforgivably.
Soon, I’d be taking out my frustration on my notebook, the walls, and worst of all, my mamma. She’d get angry, but she’d tell me, “You have to have a little more patience.” I still have a bit of a temper, but I haven’t thrown a notebook in years. Mamma’s suggestion must have sunk in for me because since the third grade, I’ve taken the time to teach myself how to do lots of things – from taking a swing at a softball to walking again after injuring my knee and undergoing three surgeries to correct it – all pretty much without losing my cool. Just recently, I assembled new furniture for my kitchen all by my lonesome. It took hours and lots of meditative breathing, but I got the job done – and the furniture is standing proudly and strongly.
Mamma’s advice on patience started to apply to other aspects of my life as I matured. She added, “Good things come to those who wait.” My mother professed this to my brother John, sister Rosaria, and me, especially when preaching abstinence before marriage. But she reserved these words for Rosaria and me also when talking about finding Mr. Right and getting married.
As I graduated college and began inching toward 30, many of my relatives started pressuring me to marry. My mamma, however, was still maintaining that patience would lead us down the right path. There was no rush, so we didn’t have to pick just anyone.
Indeed, mamma was right. Nearly four years ago I met the man I will be marrying in October 2008. The odds were against us from the start. We began as friends. But the attraction was always there. We eventually dated each other despite one of us living in Italy and the other in America. That meant lots of trips back and forth, many, many webcam dates, and e-mailed love letters. Boy, did we have patience!
Then, when I started to get antsy for an engagement, Antonio preached patience, too. Wherever had I heard that before? It’s no wonder my mamma and Antonio get along so well! He proposed near the main altar of La Basilica di Sant’ Antonio in Padova, where his late father had gone to pray for a son before Antonio was born. Months later at my brother’s wedding, Antonio got down on bended knee again and gave me a family heirloom engagement ring that his father had given to his mother. I waited. Good things came.
Now, my lifelong dream of having a family of my own and someone who would love and care for me forever was coming true. I realized just what my mom meant when she said, “Good things come to those who wait.” She was telling us that if we were patient, God would reward us. In time, our wishes and needs would be met. We would be mature enough to handle the good things if we waited. We should not settle for anything less than the best because we had patience – and as a result time – on our side. It didn’t hurt to have mamma there, too!
For more information on married life, visit the Newlyweds site on About.com (http://newlyweds.about.com), where Di Meglio is your guide. For scoop on Di Meglio’s wedding plans in Italy and the United States, visit the blogs on Bride Board (http://www.brideboard.com).
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