We all know we’re supposed to have it. It’s one of the greatest (or at least most often mentioned) virtues. It’s more difficult to master than a Ph.D.

OK, fine, I have no idea if that last one is true. But I’m sure the brainiacs would agree that having patience takes, well, a heck of a lot of patience.

There’s a reason the Serenity Prayer is so popular, a’ight?

It reads as follows: “God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.”

Generally, the saying is universal in both messaging and acceptance.

In other words, patience is not for wimps, you dig?

It is defined by the Merriam-Webster dictionary as a noun meaning “the capacity to accept or tolerate delay, trouble or suffering without getting angry or upset: ‘You can find bargains if you have the patience to sift through the dross.'”

Yes, that last word is dross. Don’t feel bad about going “Huh?” because I did too. Another fun noun, dross means “something regarded as worthless; rubbish: ‘There are bargains if you have the patience to sift through the dross.'”

Ah. Glad we cleared that up.

But back to the Serenity Prayer — let’s look at that one thought by thought, as it were.

“God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change.”

Hmm. This is a toughie. As humans, we all want what we want the way we want it and, oh, right now if not sooner, am I right? So many situations in life are outside the realm of individual control that it could potentially be maddening.

And that’s why tranquility and calm are crucial to accepting things that seem unfair, wrong, and just altogether floopy.

“God grant me the courage to change the things I can.”

Much like the Cowardly Lion in “The Wizard of Oz,” most of us hope we have enough brain power to find a little valor in our everyday lives.

Change, as it is often said, is the only constant in life. Either you adapt — floating along with its ebb and flow — or you find yourself dodging green witches and flying monkeys, ya know what I’m sayin’?

“God grant me the wisdom to know the difference.”

Wisdom — it is so oft coveted and yet so rarely is it truly attained, am I right? I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, the older I get, the more I realize how very little it is that I actually know.

But rest assured that perception, insight, awareness or whatever you choose to call it, is the reward for compiling birthdays, if you will. Once we reach the point where we understand that only through praying and paying it forward will we survive and thrive — do we arrive at the point at which we actually achieve both?

Well, that’s it for old PK for this week’s installment. Thanks for your you-know-what.

Kimerer is a columnist grateful for the tolerance of her readers. Contact her patiently at pkimerer@zoominternet.net