Sunday, September 12, 2010

Patience

We had Stake Conference this morning. It was shown live to 17 stakes in the Marriott Center and then broadcast to over 160 stakes in the Utah Valley. I didn't get to watch much of it, though--I was out in the hall with Olivia most of the time. But earlier this morning they had a Stake Priesthood Leadership meeting and I got to watch that one baby-free.

A bishop in our stake gave a really interesting talk about being patient and not judging others. He told a funny true story to illustrate his point, and I thought I would share that with you:

A few years ago there was a young woman waiting in the airport to catch her flight. She went over to one of those Kiosks and bought a paperback book and a bag of cookies to pass the time. She sat down in her terminal and waited for her flight to be called. She started reading her book and took a cookie out of the bag. All of the sudden, the man sitting next to her reached over and took a cookie, too. She was flustered and a little angry, but she didn't want to make a scene. A few minutes later, she took another cookie ... and the man took another cookie. Every time she reached for the cookie bag between them, the man reached for a cookie, too. She was getting very angry and losing her patience, but said nothing. Finally they were down to the last cookie. What would the man do once she reached for her last cookie? She didn't have to wonder very long though, because before she could take it the man reached out and broke the cookie in half and ate one of the halves. She was furious. How dare he! She stood up and left the area, fuming.

Once on her flight, she rummaged around her bag to look for her headphones or something, and there was her bag of cookies. Unopened. She realized that she had been eating his bag of cookies that whole time! And to think that she was so angry with him. And the man even shared his last cookie with her! She wanted to go back and apologize to the man, but it was too late. He will never know why this strange lady sat next to him and started eating his cookies. I guess the moral of the story is to never be to quick to pass judgment on people. Maybe you're the one that needs some correction.

Anyway, I thought that would be a good Sunday appropo thought.

3 comments:

Kathy Haynie said...

I love this story. I can apply it to myself in so many ways. Thanks for sharing! And thanks for being patient with Miss O during Stake Conference.

Masayuki said...

Did you know that same story is in the Hitchhikers Guide the Galaxy Book?

Grandpa Lewis said...

I read the same story in the Air Force newspaper published at Nellis AFB, NV. in 1984. Except it was about a 2nd Lt. who ate the cookies of a Full Colonel.......but it's still a great story! and a great lesson......Thanks Bry!