Patience is still a virtue…….. but sometimes we forget
I’m leaving the office tonight and stopped my vehicle in an out of the way area because my zipper was stuck. There is another road to exit the small area I was in, so practicing caution, I chose to un-stick it before driving off. Once I finished wrangling with it, I look up and see a white car behind me. The driver was waving her hands in frustration. I ‘turned the other cheek’ and brushed it off. There are more important things in the world to worry about.
I realized in today’s go-go-go world, we lost patience for the most part. Too busy leaving one place for another. Too busy juggling several things at once. Even on the weekends when we should slow down but we don’t. No, we go-go-go. Somewhere along the way Patience, one of the seven virtues was lost. Has anyone seen it?
In case you forgot, the seven holy virtues are humility, charity, kindness, patience, chastity, temperance, and diligence.
Romans 15:5-6 “Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward on another, according to Christ Jesus that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
My first thought: What’s the hurry? Your house isn’t going to disappear. I shrugged it off and proceeded to leave. I thought the driver behind me would be happy, but no. She tailgated me for about half a mile. No I wasn’t driving slowly. I was actually 5 miles above the speed limit.
Have we forgotten 1 Corithians 13:4? Love is patient, love is kind…….
When Paul writes a letter to a young pastor name Timothy who is facing a heavy responsiblity in the church at Ephesus, Paul writes: 1 Timothy 6:11, “But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness.
I am not saying I’m patient all the time. When waiting for my morning coffee to brew…yeah I’m eager. I do try to practice it as often as I can. This came about many years ago when I was in my twenties. While working as a waitress, I watched my tables in case a customer needed something from me. This opened my eyes to human behavior.
I people watch all the time now. It’s interesting to see how people behave when they think nobody is watching. Our innate nature emerges. When I see an impatient person, and they think nobody is paying attention, they come across rude. Silly even. What good does it do to be impatient? Do you really want to sow the seeds of wrath? That’s not walking in love with Christ.
Did you know that for every 7 virtue, there is a sin? If patience is a virtue, then wrath is its sin. Jesus wants us to turn away from sin and wrath is a sin.
I was watching Tomorrowland and the below scene grabbed my attention. Which wolf do you want to be? I prefer to be like the Heavenly Father and feed the wolf of light and hope.
“There are two wolves and they’re always fighting. One is darkness and despair. The other is light and hope. Which wolf wins?”
“Whichever one you feed.”
Have you an interesting story of encountering someone who is impatient? How did you handle it? Share in the comments section below.
Remember, love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
May peace be with you my brothers and sisters in Christ. Have a blessed day.
Spiritual Love Warrior 