--- title: Virtue and the Waiting Game description: When she thought she didn't have an ounce of strength left, God called on Maria Gallagher to exercise her virtue muscles. image: https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/20210504%20MGallagher%203.png --- [![catholic-mom-logo-v2](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/images/catholic-mom-logo-v2.svg "catholic-mom-logo-v2")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) [![search-icon](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/search-icon.svg)](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/virtue-and-the-waiting-game#) [SUNDAY BRUNCH](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/tag/sunday-brunch) # Virtue and the Waiting Game May 4, 2021 8:30:00 AM  |  by [Maria V. Gallagher](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/maria-v-gallagher) ![featured image](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/20210504%20MGallagher%203.png) *When she thought she didn't have an ounce of strength left, God called on Maria Gallagher to exercise her virtue muscles.* It was one of those days when the word “tired” didn’t even begin to describe how I was feeling. I was experiencing the kind of exhaustion I equate with the first precious weeks of parenthood, but minus the colicky baby. My to-do list seemed to be ever-expanding, yet I was sputtering like a sedan running on empty. I was living on fumes and, if truth be told, not feeling as if I were winning at life. Still, duty called and I soldiered on. I had a shopping list of a couple of must-have items from a nearby department store. I figured, even in my beleaguered state, I could breeze in, pick up a new skillet and spaghetti pot, and breeze back out again. What I had not anticipated was a sale at said department store which brought with it some fairly determined shoppers. I had not bothered to pick up a cart, so I lugged my housewares over to the line for the cash register — a line which snaked through the store, with each shopper maintaining the appropriate pandemic-required social distancing. I never realized a skillet and spaghetti pot could seem so heavy, but I felt as if I were trying to carry Mt. Everest in one hand and Mt. Vesuvius in the other. Just when I thought I could wait no longer, the woman in front of me left the line in search of a new item to add to her overflowing cart. “Yes! I thought. “I caught a break. I can now move up in line.” But God had other ideas. A few minutes later the woman returned to reclaim her place in line. It was apparent that the kind, compassionate thing to do was to let her back in line — after all, she was there first. But those mountains in my arms seemed so incredibly heavy, my fatigue was increasing, and my patience was razor-thin. In that moment, I realized that God was handing me an opportunity for virtue. I was eager to get through the line and cross one more item off my to-do list, but the Lord had a superior plan. And so I said, “Of course!” when the shopper with a heavier load than mine asked to be let back into line. A similar epiphany for me occurred in a drive-thru line. I wanted to race through the line like a racecar driver, minus the souped-up stock car. The drive-thru had two lanes that merged into one once you placed your order. I glanced to my right and saw there was a car waiting patiently to merge. I did a quick conscience check, and decided I would allow the driver to the right to move ahead of me. She seemed a bit surprised, but pleasantly pulled forward. Just then, I saw her license plate. It read, “PRAISE HIM.” Coincidence? I think not.   > [It seemed to be another God moment, another opportunity to thank the Almighty for the chance to exercise my “virtue muscles.” #catholicmom](https://ctt.ac/086d3) It seemed to be another God moment, another opportunity to thank the Almighty for the chance to exercise my “virtue muscles.” They had admittedly grown a bit flabby from lack of frequent use. Perhaps I wasn’t winning the game of life that day. After all, I was not coming in first in anything. But I believe I did learn something about the waiting game, and how, hidden within those tiring moments in line, opportunities for virtue abound.      ![people standing impatiently in line behind woman looking through wallet](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/20210504%20MGallagher%204.png?width=1080&name=20210504%20MGallagher%204.png)   --- Copyright 2021 Maria V. Gallagher Image: Canva Pro ### Share this article [![Share on Facebook](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/facebook-24x24.png)](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2Fvirtue-and-the-waiting-game%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dfacebook) [![Share on Twitter](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/twitter-24x24.png)](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2Fvirtue-and-the-waiting-game%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2Fvirtue-and-the-waiting-game%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&source=tweetbutton&text=Virtue%20and%20the%20Waiting%20Game) [![Share on Email](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/email-24x24.png)](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2Fvirtue-and-the-waiting-game%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail%20&body=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2Fvirtue-and-the-waiting-game%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail) ** #### About the Author ![Maria V. Gallagher](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/Contriubutors/MARIA%20V.%20GALLAGHER.jpeg) ### [Maria V. Gallagher](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/maria-v-gallagher) Maria V. Gallagher spends her days advocating for women, children, and families. She is the mother of a beautiful ballerina and a member of the worldwide Cursillo movement. In her spare time, Maria likes to blog, walk, sing, dance, and fill the room with laughter. Read her work at [MariaVGallagher.com](http://mariavgallagher.com). [**](http://twitter.com/mariaevitale) ## Related Blog Articles [ Women in History: How Dorothy Day Changed My Life Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/women-in-history-how-dorothy-day-changed-my-life) [ Advice for a New Mom Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/advice-for-a-new-mom) [ Are You There, God? Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/are-you-there-god) ## Comments ## Donate now [![Support Catholic Mom](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545) [![CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png?width=1806&height=731&name=CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png "CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) ##### Subscribe to Catholic Momcast on iTunes or Spotify [![itunes-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/itunes-logo-black.svg)](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/catholic-momcast/id1362352357)[![spotify-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/spotify-logo-black.svg)](https://open.spotify.com/show/15CoipHL7z61IDcYErV0b8?si=hqaQJSxDQgq7S1hxCwsoxQ) ##### CatholicMom on Social Networks [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) ##### About Catholic Mom [Who We Are](https://www.catholicmom.com/about-us) [Contact Us](https://www.catholicmom.com/contact) [Support CatholicMom.com](https://www.catholicmom.com/support-us)   ##### Associated Links [Holy Cross Family Ministries](https://www.hcfm.org/) [Family Rosary](https://www.familyrosary.org/) [Family Theater Productions](https://www.familytheater.org/) [Congregation of the Holy Cross](https://www.holycrossusa.org/) [Father Patrick Peyton, C.S.C.](https://www.fatherpeyton.org/) [The Peyton Institute for Domestic Church Life](https://www.peytonfamilyinstitute.org/) ### **Stay connected!** Don’t miss a thing! 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