As God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves
with compassion, kindness, humility, and patience." Colossians 3:12
When raising my daughter, I found myself saying to her quite
often, patience is a virtue. She would
reply consistently, "that I don't have." It became almost a private joke between
us. I now realize how much I need to
work for and pray for this in my own life and person.
In my last three devotions, I have discussed living and
loving with kindness and compassion (virtues which are easier for me to grasp
and practice in my life) and humility, which is more nebulous for me and
difficult to grasp and live. I am
striving to do better with these virtues in my life on a daily basis. My prayer life helps with this.
Now, I will attempt to tackle patience, which is even more
difficult for me, especially in light of my get 'er done, let's move on, take
charge personality. Patience, according
to dictionary.com, is an ability or willingness to suppress restlessness or
annoyance when confronted with delay.
So, it is refraining from a somewhat "human" reaction to
delay. Maybe the idea of refrain and
suppression are the keys to reminding me to be patient, as I do like to show
self control.
Patience is also defined as a quiet, steady perseverance,
even tempered care, diligence. So,
patience may even be a form of inaction, which again goes against my very
nature. In my nearly forty years of
teaching, it was almost second nature for me to be patient with my amazing
"special" students. In my more personal relationships, however,
it is more difficult to be patient.
Other emotions get in the way.
Synonyms for patience include submissiveness, sufferance,
endurance, and fortitude, even stoicism.
Wow! In the last devotion, I
discussed how my father modeled humility for the 90 years he lived. My mother is 96 and is a picture of
patience. In fact, sometimes it is
almost annoying, especially when she acts stoic and I am in emotion mode.
In Galatians v. 16 and 17,
Paul admonishes us to "....live by the Spirit, and you will not
gratify the desires of the sinful nature.
For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the
Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature.
They are in conflict with one another." Impatience, therefore, is sinful. Again, that may help me as I reflect on
refraining from sin. In verse 22, Paul
says that the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,
goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. These virtues go together, hand in hand.
In Thessalonians: 14-15, Paul again tells us to be patient:
"And, we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid,
help the weak, be patient with everyone.
Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be
kind to each other and to everyone else".
Romans 12:12 states, "....Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction,
faithful in prayer". Especially In
difficult times, I know that I can only do that with God at the helm, through
Him, with Him, and in Him.
I will end with this Prayer for Patience by Heather King
God, I have been impatient.
I have lost my temper.
I
have said things I shouldn't have said.
I have scarred people with my words.
I have
grown deeply weary and given up on waiting.
I've
struck out on my own to make things happen.
I have been
impatient with myself, criticizing and condemning,
And holding
myself hostage to perfection.
PLEASE
FORGIVE ME.
You
love me and you have lavished me with grace.
You
are slow to anger and abounding with love.
PLEASE HELP
ME.
Help me to receive your patience.
Help me to show
patience to others, even the most difficult people.
Help me to have
patience with myself, and with this Season of my life.
In Jesus'
name, Amen.
Connie Barry
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