"With all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace." ... Ephesians 4:2,3
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So in response to my social media post, a friend said they had zero patience for people who _____ and _____ and _____. In just a couple sentences they managed to insult my friends who'd commented and me and even Tom, as well.
And hey. Ol' Debra gets miffed when her friends--and especially her husband--get put down. You know, dismissed as stupid and unworthy of one's time.
Next morning, (I'll confess) this was me:
(Except, insert a little grey cat beside me.) 😉
Heh. But of course, I did get up because, oh Honey! I'm determined that nothing will stop me from moving forward. Nothing will hold me down, not even my own hurts. You know, like that verse in Romans 8--
" neither trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword can separate us from the love (and help) of Christ."
Well, I went about my day, but uh-oh! Soon, inside, I heard, "Uhm, Debra? How many times have you spoken sentences which begin with, "I have no patience for...?"
"I have no patience for harsh Christians who're shocked when they're treated poorly."
"I have no patience for Christians who believe women should keep silent in church."
"I have no patience for Christians who never give, yet expect to receive all the good stuff."
So what's the problem? I mean, it's not like I expect non-Christians to behave. Doesn't that count?
The problem is this: God has patience with them all. All the folks for whom I have no patience.
Oh! I'd sort-of forgotten.
God is love and love, first on the list, is patient. So if I tell you I have no patience for you, I'm also saying I have no love for you.
Gulp. Talk about your Conviction City. I'm still living there, actually.
But it's all good! That's because I long to grow, especially in love. When I'm growing in love, I'm growing in God. And that's vital to me.
Anyway, now this beats within my heart: may I never again say (or think), "I have no patience for ....". May God help me shed that bit of pride so that I'll not hurt people with my I-don't-have-time-for-you words.
And may this lesson enable me to love others, better. Unconditionally, even.
And what still blows me away after tons of years? Truly--all things do work together for good for them who love God and are called according to His purpose. Truly.
If I'll allow them. If I don't become all offended, instead.
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"Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant." ... 1 Corinthians 13:4
If we truly love God with all our heart, it's not nearly as difficult to love people. He 'sheds abroad His love within our hearts' for others.
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Oh! This looks like something fun to watch next year. (When the Brady Bunch first came around I was at the perfect age: ten-years-old. For years I was a rabid fan. heh.)
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"Walk ... with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love." ... Ephesians 4:2
4 comments:
As always, a great reminder to us all Debra. I can be a very impatient person at times. Over the years I have tried very hard to curb that tendency and I think I’m doing much better now. And as for the TV show, it looks like it will be fun to watch. The Brady Bunch was one of my favorite shows as a child too.
Many blessings, Betsy
Reading this reminded me of a recurring theme that has crossed my path lately. Kindness. Plain, old kindness. It doesn't matter how many times you cross the threshold of a church, if you don't treat others with kindness, nothing much matters. And, of course, it starts at home, with your loved ones (you know, the ones who can drive you crazy in a heartbeat). I think I treat others with kindness--most of the time--but God wants it to ooze outta every pore. I'm not there, that's for sure, but there's always room for growth in each of our lives. Isn't it great that God never gives up on us! He continues to challenge us to die to ourselves so we can become more like Jesus.
if this one doesn't hit home with EVERYONE, well then i have no patience for them ... hehe ... but all kidding aside, we all want to throw stones, yet live in glass houses ... but the AMAZING GRACE of GOD keeps on giving and giving ... bless HIS name!
Betsy--you reminded me of something Joyce Meyer says, "I may not be where I need to be but thank God I'm not where I used to be!" I love it when we spend more time look ahead with believing rather than gazing back with regret.
Thanks, Pam! Great words and I loved the mention of dying to self. I used to use that more often in my blog, but haven't in awhile. Kindness--it's usually a simple thing but Today? People (it seems) view it as being pretty hard. Oh my.
Saija! Hadn't seen you over here in a long while--thanks for commenting and for making me smile, as well. :) Grace truly is amazing and it's like these days we need more of it than ever, right? <3
Thanks, Everyone! Blessings, Debra
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