Note to parent or teacher: Here’s a 20- to 30-minute class plan on learning patience. It highlights the following lesson objectives: Learn of historical characters who exemplified the virtue of patience, and identify ways to emulate this quality; study and memorize scriptures on the importance patience plays in one’s life. (Character Building: Values and Virtues: Patience-2a,d)

Read “Power-Up Devotional #7: Spirit Fruit: Patience.” This article highlighted three different aspects of patience that may be difficult: patience with others, patience with oneself, and patience with God’s plan for our life. Talk about the areas in which it may be difficult for you to practice patience; conclude with what helps you during times when it’s difficult to be patient.

Take two minutes, and see who can come up with the longest list of Bible characters who needed to wait a long time before God revealed to them His plan for their lives. Afterwards, compile your lists and pick a few characters you are most interested in and read their stories before bed or for devotions over the course of the next few days. (You can expand this brainstorm by including historical characters who also needed to practice patience before they could see the fulfillment of their desires.)

Read one or more of the stories/passages from the Bible on patience, using the included discussion questions.

Memorize “So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up” (Galatians 6:9 NLT).

See if you and the children can come up with a few times in your lives when God had something special planned for you, but there was a waiting period involved.

Do the activity in “In Relation to Eternity.”

Just for fun, here are some object lessons on patience that you can do with your children.

Pray for patience, asking Jesus to help you develop this fruit of the Spirit in specific areas that you would like to become more patient in.