January 7, 2020

Happy Tuesday! Before I woke up this morning I was thinking about yesterday and what stuck me were the many examples of patience and the exact opposite—no patience—that I experienced throughout the day. It just sort of amazes me when some folks seem blessed with an abundance of patience and others have none. I’m not naturally a patient person, but when I look at the whole, it all become so much easier. 


I looked at a few times Paul instructs us on patience, and they were all tied to love. 


“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭13:4‬ ‭NIV‬‬


If we love people, we are patient with them. It’s easy to be patient with our little ones, with our families and friends and even our pets, but with those “people” out there—those that look funny and not like us. It’s not nearly as easy. And even if some people act like they are being patient with strangers, inside they are fuming. 


“Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love.”

‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭4:2‬ ‭NLT‬‬


It seems that if we are humble and realize that we have enough faults of our own, it’s much easier to be patient with one another’s, especially through our love. An older lady I used to go to church with always said “Love covers a multitude of sins.” And what she meant was, tall, short, skinny or fat, if you love someone, you look past it all. 


“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” ‭‭Colossians‬ ‭3:12‬ ‭NIV‬‬


Clothes ourselves as God’s chosen. Put on patience just like we put on our shirt in the mornings. Don’t you love that picture? The socks of compassion, the shoes of kindness, the pants of humility and the jacket of gentleness. Clothed. Wrapped up in totally in love. 


Patience. How can we be more patient? Love people. Love all people and patience just naturally follows. Isn’t that amazing how that works? 


Lord of love, thank you for your overwhelming love for us. How wonderful it is that when you forgive us there is no probationary period, there is no “Ill forgive you but I won’t forget” pettiness. With you it is all. And for us, we want to give back to you our all. We want to learn to love you more fully and through loving you, learn to love people as you do. You are a great God and we worship you this day. Thank you Lord for your mercy and your grace and for our home you are preparing. Teach us Father to be patient with all those we encounter today. Amen and amen. 


Love you dear one, 

Pam. 



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