If there’s one big lesson I’ve been having to learn in this life, it’s the lesson of being patient. Sometimes, I just want to get things done now!

Take two weeks ago, for instance. In dealing with my step-dad’s estate as executor, I’d been filling out all kinds of forms. He had some American stock that had been sold to a Canadian company about six months before his death. At the time, there were forms I had to fill out just so I could get information.

Upon his death, I called the company and got instructions on what I needed to do. It took three weeks just to receive those forms. I filled them out, followed the instructions I had received to perfection, and mailed the package off that included special additional instructions in the way of a formal letter that the stock was to be sold.

Two weeks ago, first on a Thursday, I got a piece of mail that didn’t indicate his estate status. What the heck? It was mid-afternoon and I knew the phone lines would be busy. (I’ve learned that if you don’t want to be kept on hold forever, call first thing in the morning–you get right in.)

The next morning, I got sidetracked. The mail arrived and with it another piece of mail, this time indicating the estate status but asking me to fill out a form regarding his tax status. What the heck? Didn’t I cover that in the package I had sent them?  It was now 1:30 p.m. on a Friday afternoon. I called and was immediately put on hold and was told by the robot responder that I’d be put on hold for 20 minutes. I was prepared to sit it out.

Then my little voice said, Hang up. Just wait.

Having learned to listen to that little voice in the past, I immediately hung up.  Wait for what?

These are regular mailings. Automated. Wait for them to process your package.

For how long?

A couple weeks, that’s all.

I set the papers aside but in daily view, attaching a Post-It reminder on when to call.

A whole week passed.

And then the following Monday, I got a check in the mail from the company. The stock had been sold and the account closed.

Once again, the little voice had been right, saving me time and aggravation. All I had to do was wait.

And not doubt the little voice knew that I was being impatient.