Will You Explain Patience?

I was recently asked to explain what I meant by patience.  I relayed the story of Arsenius.  He was one of the desert fathers who lived in the upper region of the Nile during the 4th and 5th century.   According to the story (The Sayings of the Desert Fathers), Arsenius presented himself to the group of hermits for inclusion. One of the older men placed a piece of dry wood in the ground and told Arsenius to water that piece of wood each day.  In order to get the water, Arsenius took his small bottle and walked a great distance during the evening, in order to avoid the desert sun and heat, to the water source and returned by the early morning to empty his water bottle on the piece of wood.  He did this every day for three years and, at last, the wood produced leaves then fruit.  When the fruit was ripe, the men took the fruit into the Chapel where they worshiped and ate.  Arsenius was included.  Jesus said, "You will know them by their fruits" (Matthew 7:16, NASV.)  That's one of the best explanations of patience that I know about today.