I was teaching a sales seminar I'd designed, "What if Selling Were Serving?" One participant seemed too shy and inarticulate to be an effective salesperson. When I asked his manager about him afterward, tears welled up in her eyes. "Nick's father used to beat him whenever he spoke. Nick's doing his best to conquer his fear of speaking."

Wow. Suddenly, 30-something-year-old Nick, whom I'd judged (oops... sorry) as a loser, was one of the bravest people I knew! I started thinking about other people (including myself) who have internal disabilities, both emotional and physical. We do our best to be kind to people with visible challenges; let's be as kind to everyone, knowing most of us harbor invisible challenges. (P.S. Audiences often ask if the second verse is autobiographical. Only slightly. It's more a composite of women I've known.)

Have Patience
Words and Music by Laura Derocher

He... he hardly speaks.
You might think he's rather slow,
but there's something we don't know.
Long ago they made him shush,
beat him so he learned to hush.
And now he struggles to fit in
'cause talking brings the pain and fear again.
But, bless his heart, he tries.

CHORUS:
Have patience. Have patience.
That's all he really needs
when he's having trouble,
trouble being who he knows he wants to be.
He has no wheelchair. He's not blind.
Instead his challenge lies inside
where only he can see.
Please have patience.

She… she suddenly
lashes out at someone close,
but there's something we don't know.
Long ago, Daddy left
and when she trusted other men
they, sure enough, always went away.
Now she finds it hard to let love come and stay.
But, bless her heart, she tries.

CHORUS (variation):
Have patience. Have patience.
That's all she really needs
when she's having trouble,
trouble being who she knows she wants to be.
She has no wheelchair. She's not blind.
Instead her challenge lies inside
where only she can see.
Please have patience...

BRIDGE:
... 'Cause scars run deep.
Where there's ugliness, damage lies beneath.
I must remember to be tender
with him and her and me.
'Cause, bless our hearts, we try.

CHORUS (variation):
Have patience. Have patience.
That's all I really need
when I'm having trouble,
trouble being who I know I want to be.
I have no wheelchair. I'm not blind.
Instead my challenge lies inside
where only I can see.

TAG:
Please have patience.
Please have patience.
Oh, please have patience with me.
Have patience.

© 2001 Laura Derocher (ASCAP). All rights reserved.

Hear an audio sample of this song and order Laura’s CD Song of My Own at .

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Look How I’m Leading Now It Wouldn’t Be Bedford Falls When You Passed Through Song of My Own What Are You Meant To Do This Kind of Love Have Patience Once Upon Your Lifetime Only Love Towers I’m Shining