There was a version of me who felt like she was always behind. Behind in life. Behind in dreams. Behind in who I thought I was supposed to be by now. Becoming a mother at a young age forced me to grow up quickly, but it also slowed parts of my life that I didn’t yet understand. While others were discovering themselves freely, I was learning responsibility, sacrifice, and survival all at once. And for a long time, I carried this extra dose of proving them wrong! And it kept me in a constant state of proving myself.
When You Feel Behind in Life
I loved my child deeply, but I constantly questioned myself. Did I mess up my timeline? Did I miss my moment? Was I behind because of the choices I made? What I didn’t realize then was that love was already at work in my life, even when I couldn’t see it.
Love Doesn’t Rush Your Becoming. Love didn’t rush me. Love didn’t discard me. Love didn’t demand perfection. Love stayed. Love waited while I figured things out. Love held space while I healed. Love allowed me to grow at a pace that matched my capacity.
And over time, I learned something important. Love is patient, not just with other people, but with who we are becoming.
I wrote more about this in Love is Patient, Especially With Yourself, because that lesson didn’t come from a perfect season. It came from learning how to slow down without feeling like I was falling behind. Because sometimes pacing yourself and enjoying the journey of life’s lessons matters more than the clock.
Patience Is Grace in Motion
Patience didn’t mean passivity. It meant grace. Grace for the younger version of me who did the best she could with what she knew. Grace for the seasons that felt slow but were actually shaping me. Grace for the delays that protected me from becoming something I wasn’t ready to sustain yet. Looking back now, I can see it clearly: I wasn’t late. I wasn’t behind. I was being built.
You Are Not Behind, You Are Being Built
Every season added depth. Every pause added wisdom. Every stretch of waiting taught me trust. Believe love, real love, is patient because it understands growth takes time. It honors the process. It allows becoming without pressure. If you’re in a season where progress feels slow… If your life doesn’t look how you imagined by now…If you’re learning how to love yourself through your own becoming, this is your reminder:
You are not behind. You are not forgotten. You are not running out of time. Love is patient. And so is the becoming.
The Meaning Behind the Love Is Patient Sweatshirt
This isn’t just a Valentine’s sweatshirt. It’s a reminder to slow down. To extend grace. To trust your process. To love better, including yourself. Faith-inspired. Growth-centered. Becoming-aware. Because love is patient. And that includes the version of you you’re still becoming.
If this spoke to you, share it with someone who needs the reminder. And if you’re in a season of becoming, wear something that reflects that journey. Shop the Love Is Patient Sweatshirt (Faith-inspired reminder for women learning to grow without rushing.)
XOXO,
Steffanie Monae’
steffaniemonae.com 