Forbear

I usually associate patience with one of the following scenarios: I'm driving around the mall parking lot for five minutes, searching for a close space. I finally spot someone getting into their car, two rows up from the entrance. I pull into position and proceed to wait for yet another five minutes, while the person does who knows what, for the person to pull out of the space and leave. Scenario #2: My daughter Jadyn asks to help me put the dishes away. I reluctantly agree because I know this means she'll be underfoot and that it'll take twice as long to get the task done since it takes her an age to sort the silverware. Scenario #3: I've managed to get myself and my two kids ready, diaper bag packed, all of us loaded into the car and ready to go....yet we can't go because my husband Jon still hasn't found his way into the driver's seat. 

Each of the above scenarios has to do with time and the fact that it's being wasted. I get impatient when things take longer than I think they should. However, there are other ways of being impatient. In my devotions the other day I came across the following sentence: "Patience means accepting the imperfections of others". Timeliness can be involved here, but other examples abound. Like when Jadyn is singing her favorite song at the top of her lungs for the 15 billionth time. It takes patience for me to bite my tongue and let her express her joy through singing her favorite Bible song, even though my ears are begging for peace. Or when Jon is in the bathroom rushing to get ready for work in the morning and has no time to put things back in their place, so I'm greeted with a messy counter when I enter the bathroom later. Also when I've asked my son Trey if he needs to potty, sit him on the toilet for several minutes with no luck, and not five minutes later he approaches me with a sheepish expression on his face and says, "Mommy, I pooped".

Ephesians 4:2 says, "With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;". Longsuffering refers to patience and forbear means to endure. We're to patiently endure the faults and imperfections of others, and all with love. Not a one of us is perfect. The lowliness and meekness refers to humility. Being humble will help us realize the world doesn't revolve around our desires and needs and make it easier for us to do the former. The context of this verse refers to unity in the church, but this extends to our family, coworkers, and any other people we come in contact with, not just our brothers and sisters in Christ. 

The next time you're tempted to lash out in impatience at the annoyances and mistakes of others, remember this verse and determine to endure with love.

In Christ,

Christina Gibbs

Once raised by a Virtuous single mother, I am now a SAVED and strong Virtuous, Fashionista, that has been freed from a broken heart with God’s love, who accepts when God says ‘No”, who cherishes my best friend, who fears the Lord, who’s best friend is the Lord, that waits on discernment from God, who is living for today, who is a woman of strength, that understands the power of my words, that is aware of God’s presence, is allowing my light to shine, whose growing to be more passionate about serving the Lord, who can listen without pride to constructive criticism, whose fear does not hold me back, who runs to the Lord first about everything, who strives to stay on God’s course, who is saved by the grace of God, who admits to being envious of others at times, who knows my worth, has a calming peace, who gives thanks daily, who wants to be a godly example to others, who is able to forgive my enemies, who has high expectations of me, who has been created in God’s own image, who lovingly submits to my spouse, who understands God's love, has an intimate relationship with God, supports Breast Cancer Awareness, with a family who honors me, Virtuous friends who love me, and with a giving spirit.