Patience -the art of hoping

Queen of the Night

Once upon a time, a little girl heard of a flower so beautiful that when it bloomed, it would take your breath away. For her birthday, she asked her father for this precious flower.

When the day arrived, she eagerly opened her gift, only to find a simple pot of soil. Her father smiled softly.

Father: “This, my dear, contains the seed of the flower you’ve dreamed of. But you must be patient—it will bloom only when the time is right.”

Little Girl: “When will it bloom, Daddy?”

Father: “I don’t know. But they call it the “Queen of the Night”, a rare species that blooms only one night each year.”

The little girl looked at her father with wonder: “Only one night?!  How will we know which night?”

Father:  “The night before it blooms, you’ll smell its fragrance—a sweet, strong scent. But by morning, it will be gone, its petals gone with the sunrise.”

The little girl was excited but also doubtful.

Little Girl: “Are you sure it will grow?! ”

Father: “I’m not sure. But if you want it, you need to try. Be patient and have hope.

Every day, the little girl followed her father’s instructions, tending to the pot with care. She moved it to the brightest light and watered it gently. But each time she checked, there was no change.

After five weeks, a tiny shoot appeared.

The little girl ran to her father with joy to announce: “Daddy, it’s sprouting! Should I water it more? How can I help it grow faster?”

Father: “This is wonderful news, darling. But remember, too much of anything can harm it. You are doing a great job. Keep going and be patient.”

As the months passed, the plant grew taller, but it didn’t look like the flower she had imagined. It was an awkward, prickly stem—more like a cactus than a blooming beauty.

Little Girl: “Daddy, this plant... it’s not pretty at all. Are you sure it will flower?”

Father: “It is a species of Cereus cactus. But it will one day bloom with a rare flower, just like the one you wanted.”

The little girl sighed, feeling discouraged.

Little Girl: “How much longer? It’s been almost a year”

Father: “Have you changed your mind, darling?”

The little girl replied thoughtfully: “No. I want to see it bloom.” 

A year passed.

Little Girl: “Still no bloom, Daddy!”

Father: “Keep your hope alive. Keep going.”

Another year passed.

Older Girl: “Dad, it’s been three years! The cactus has grown so much. I’ve cared for it as best as I can, and still, nothing.”

Father: “I understand. Have you changed your mind?”

Though the girl felt frustrated, she was not willing to give up. She replied stubbornly: “No. I read that when it’s four years old, in summer, it might finally flower.”

Finally, in July, she noticed a bud. With her heart racing, she ran to find her father.

Girl: “look! There’s a bud!”

Father: “Great. Keep a close eye on it, as it will only bloom one night.”

That night, as the girl approached the cactus, a sweet, intoxicating fragrance filled the air. It was the scent her father had promised - so strong and beautiful, she could hardly believe it. She rushed inside, her excitement bubbling over.

Girl: “It’s happening! Come quickly!”

Together, they sat by the cactus all night and witnessed the flower blooming, magnificent and rare.

Father: “It’s magical, isn’t it? After four years of waiting, you did it. Bravo, for your perseverance."

As the first light of dawn touched the petals, they began to wilt, softly falling to the ground.

The father looked at his daughter proudly and lovingly: “Was it worth the wait?”

Girl: “Yes, Dad. I wish it could have lasted longer. When do you think it might bloom again?”

Father: “I don’t know. But you saw it bloom.  That's something special. If you want it again, you’ll need patience, hope, and care. That’s the way of rare things.”

Girl: “I love this flower. I’ll keep caring for it. And maybe, just maybe, it will bloom again.”

• Personal:

  • How do you keep motivated when things are not moving as fast as you would like them to?

  • How do you stay calm in the face of uncertainty and delay?

  • How can we deal with tasks that are repetitive and need patience?

  • What are some scenarios where patience might be counterproductive or detrimental?

• Parenting:

  • How can we make a long term investment appealing to the current generation, when the context of today hinges on immediate reward?

  • How do you keep children motivated & stay positive with tasks that are long term or delayed?

• Organisation:

  • How can organisations create a culture of patience that promotes long term thinking and requires sustained effort?

  • Can you recall a time when you had to stay patient with a project / colleague/ outcome? What helped you stay patient?

“Even a happy life cannot be without a measure of darkness, and the word happy would lose its meaning if it were not balanced by sadness. It is far better to take things as they come along with patience and equanimity.”

- Carl Jung