WAITING
Day after day after day after day, Noah worked on building the ark. It took him approximately 35,800 days to finish. That’s a LONG time and A LOT of patience!
Pitter-patter, pitter-patter, pitter-patter the rain fell for 40 days and 40 nights. That’s a LONG time and A LOT of patience!
Up and down, back and forth, up and down, back and forth the giant boat floated on the water for 150 days. That’s a LONG time and A LOT of patience!
The boat sat and sat and sat a mountain for 40 days before the dove was released which returned. That’s a LONG time and A LOT of patience!
The boat rested and rested and rested on the mountain for 7 more days before the dove was released a second time which returned with a fig leaf. That’s a LONG time and A LOT of patience!
Noah and his family waited and waited and waited 7 more days before releasing the dove a third time which did not return. That’s a LONG time and A LOT of patience!
Discussion Questions:
1. What is patience? (Waiting without complaining)
2. What are some things you have had to wait for? (Christmas, birthday, vacation, arrival at a destination)
3. How do you feel when you are waiting and how can these feelings be handled?
Action Step: Helping others can help when you are waiting. Think of something for which you are waiting. Make a plan for helping someone during the waiting time.
Bible Verse: Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for him to act (Psalm 37:7, NLT).
Suggested Song: Noah Was A Faithful Man from In the Beginning album. (Click on song title to hear a clip.)