“Patience” from: The Fruit of the Spirit, a collection of stories for children (c1986) by Maryann Scheufele

by Maryann on March 17, 2010

Weekend Today
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“Patience” is a puppet show script from my Love Thy Neighbors puppet tour of 1982. The script was attached to the back of a hand painted set of four foot tall shutter screens which hid the puppeteer. Two simple hand held puppets spoke the dialogue and the preschool audience was encouraged to use their imaginations about the story. Props were gathered from around the house and among my children’s toys.  The verses prompted the puppeteer to simply hold up and move a prop across the theatre’s stage when speaking coordinating lines of the script. Children in preschool and library story hours have enjoyed this story as a  puppet show from me.

In this fast paced world, much like the world of years ago when this story was first written, patience is a virtue worth teaching children. For all of you Family Literacy advocates, I hope you find the story of patience a valuable lesson in reading for children learning to read around the world.

Today the story of  ”Patiience” is being published at Anza Books for all of you young and old folks who may have been children once upon a time. Perhaps there is something that you are hoping to accomplish in life or maybe you would like to perform a puppet show or read to a child on occasion.  Remember what it was like as a child when things were always learned and accomplishments seemed neverending.  The challenges of childhood always required the encouragement of being patient with yourself.  Believe and have patience  in yourself today, and accomplish a task that only appears insurmountable without that extra special encouragement that children receive from those around them who love them so much.  Take it from me, this bit of encouragement will remind you just what you needed as a child to accomplish huge success, and that bit of encouragement remains the same today for young and old folks too. I love you – you love me – we’re a happy family, a jingle created in my home when my sister and I were helping our children learn about the love in our family, was first performed in public by me as a puppeteer during a show’s finale , with a  son,  and neice, and of course the live preschool audience at The Needham Children’s Center. Sometimes, life’s accomplishments are bigger than we ever realized they would be – I suppose that makes us, a part of a prettty large family.   As First Lady Barbara Bush said during a commencement speach to Wellesley College graduates,  ”…believe in something larger thanyourself…” when she spoke of  her involvement with literacy. I encourage you as well – realization of  accomplishment happens when you, “acknowledge yourself with patience and  determination”,  Read On:

PATIENCE

Taken from The Fruit of the Spirit A Collection of Stories for Children

by Maryann Scheufele c1986MaryannScheufele Anza Books

Patience

Peter likes to play outside.  When he is not with the other children in the circular area in front of his house, he is usually watching out the window as other children play.  While watching out the window, Peter thought that riding bicycles looked like the most fun.

Sometimes Peter climbed up onto the seat of his big brother’s bicycle as it sat parked in the driveway.  Peter’s legs were too short to reach the peddles, but he would pretend that he was really going places.  Once, Peter’s big brother gave Peter a ride on the back of the bicycle.

Neighborhood children waved to Peter as he watched them ride their bicycles around the circle.  Peter enjoyed watching and thinking about how he would be riding, as soon as his legs could reach the peddles.

Then one day, Peter was thrilled to announce his birthday surprise, a new bicycle, just his size!  “Look everybody.  I got a new bike,” shouted Peter to the gang in the circle.

Everybody admired the present.  Peter was very proud.

“Now I will ride around the circle too,” said Peter.

With one foot oon a peddle and the other foot on the ground, Peter said, “O.K. here I go.”  Before Peter could turn the peddles around two times, the handle bars steered into the curb.  Peter fell down.  The bicycle fell on top of him.  All the children laughed.  Peter almost cried.

“You forgot to watch where you were going,” said his father.

“Oh,” said Peter.  “O.K. I’ll watch where I’m going this time.”

Peter began to peddle.  He was carefully concentrating.  “I’m steering the handle bars,” shouted Peter.  The peddles turned around and around and around.  The bicycle started to lean over to one side.  “Woooa,” said Peter.  Peter tried to turn the handle bars to steer the right way but he turned them a little bit too far.  Down went the bicycle and down went Peter, with one leg stuck underneath the bicycle.  He banged his elbow pretty hard against the street.

The neighborhood children laughed louder this time.  Peter did look funny all tangled beneath his bicycle.

Peter cried.

The laughter stopped.

Peter’s father spoke up, giving Peter further instructions.  “You must steer with the handle bars and peddle fast, both at the same time.”

“I can’t do it.  I’ll never be able to ride my bike,” cried Peter.

“You can ride it Peter.  You were riding it before you fell,” said his father.

“Oh ya, I was wasn’t I,” said Peter.

All the children laughed again.

“Every time you try again you will go a little bit further,” encouraged Peter’s father.  “It takes patience to learn to ride a bicycle.”

“What’s patience,” Peter asked as he wiped away a tear.

Suddenly music filled the air.  Children began to dance around.  Father said, “this is a song about patience.”  Peter then watched as everybody in the neighborhood took a turn singing a verse about what patience meant to them:

To look your best when you get dresses, it takes patience.

To pick up your toys without any noise, it takes patience.

To safely cross the street where the corners meet, it takes patience.

To draw a round ball you must color it small, it takes patience.

To get your hair brushed without any fuss, it takes patience.

To wait for cooked food when you’re in a hungry mood, it takes patience.

To learn to ice skate ‘til you become great, it takes patience.

To wait for your turn so your brother can learn, it takes patience.

In the warm summer breeze, for a popsicle to freeze, it takes patience.

To build your blocks high ‘til they reach to the sky, it takes patience.

So your undies don’t get wet, you will learn yet, it takes patience.

When Mom’s on the phone and you feel all alone, it takes patience.

To write your name better, learning to make letters, it takes patience.

Sometimes it seems like hours to wait for Mom to shower, it takes patience.

Grandma’s house seems so far when driving there in a car, it takes patience.

When a long train goes past, the caboose is not ‘til last, it takes patience.

To build a castle in the sand when you’ve only got two hands, it takes patience.

For flowers to bloom so you can put them in your living room, it takes patience.

For buds to become leaves, turn colors, and fall off trees, it takes patience.

To go to bed at night without giving your parents a fight, it takes patience.

For night to turn to day, when “good morning” you will say, it takes patience.

Then father sang to them all:

“Now go and be patient.

Learn things that are new.

It’s work to be patient,

But it’s fun to do.

And when you are done,

You’ll see that it’s true,

It’s fun to be patient,

For me and for you.”

“I’m going to try riding my new bike again,” said Peter.

“Don’t worry about riding all the way around the circle,” said Peter’s father. “Concentrate on going straight first.  Put your foot on the ground to stop yourself from falling.  Remember to use your brakes.”

Peter was riding, wobbling, and riding.  He even turned successfully around part of the circle.  Grinning, Peter put his foot to the ground as he came to a stop.  “I’m doin’ it!” he exclaimed.

Even though he had not gone very far, Peter was doing it.  He was learning to ride his bicycle a little bit at a time.  That’s what patience is all about.

“Keep at it, Peter. Don’t give up.  You’re doing great.”  Peter’s father was proud of the wobbly bicycle rider.

Peter kept riding and wobbling and stopping and smiling.  The children cheered and laughed.

“Can you believe it?  I’m doing it.  I’m riding my new bicycle all by myself.”  Peter believed in himself as he rode a few feet further every time.  Because he was patient, he never gave up.  Soon he had made it all the way around the circle.  He was so happy and proud of himself that somehow, music filled the air:

Believing and patience go hand in hand,

When you’re trying out something brand new.

Just watch what you’re doing, and you will land

On your feet, two by two.

So believe and be patient all the day through.

You’ll be happy and have fun too.

Believing and patience go hand in hand

All the time with whatever you do.

You’ll be doing your best when you can stand

To be patient for a minute or two.

So believe and be patient all the day  through.

You’ll be happy and have fun too.

A  published work, these days is like a written work of old, and may be published with similar intentions of the lyricist from  Irish olden days writing on paper, as the Scottish St. Patrick taught the Irish folks to do  - to preserve their story. Long live the blog.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day.

From Maryann.

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