Patience

Miss Johnson, a first grade teacher, was having a very difficult day.  It was the last week of the semester and she was behind in her work.  It had rained all day and the children couldn’t go out for recess.  The entire class grew more restless and hyperactive as the school day wore on.  She could hardly wait for the bell to finally ring at 3:00.  About 2:45, Miss Johnson looked out the window and saw it was still raining, so she decided to get the kids ready to leave.  She sorted out everyone’s boots and raincoats and began getting them on.  Finally, it looked like everyone was ready to go and this day was about to end.  Except for one little boy whose boots were just too small for his feet.  The boots had no straps or zippers and it took almost all of her strength to get them on.  When she finally got them on she straightened up with a sigh of relief.  That’s when the little boy looked down at his feet and said, “These are not my boots!”  Miss Johnson didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, but being the good teacher she was, she smiled and started to take them off.  They were harder to take off than they were to put on.  She yanked and tugged until they finally came off.  The little boy then looked up at her with a smile and said, “They’re not my boots, but they’re my sister’s, and I got to wear them!”

Patience.  The Apostle Paul says that as Christians, we are to clothe ourselves with patience. Would you consider yourself a patient person?  If you do, would you consider getting a second opinion?  If you are married, your partner will probably be more than happy to fulfill this request.     

Would you agree that the world would be a much happier and safer place to live if we all could cultivate an atmosphere of patience?  The Greek word for patience in the New Testament means “long tempered.”  This would be the opposite of “short tempered.”  We’ve all met people who are short tempered, have a short fuse and blow up with anger rather easily.  To be patient means being long tempered to deal with people, situations, and things that are annoying without exploding in anger.  Patience describes someone who has the power to exercise revenge but instead exercises restraint.  Which one describes you?  

Patience is considered a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) in contrast to works, and as such, the Holy Spirit produces patience more so than our own efforts.  I would like to challenge you to pray that the Lord will bless you with the virtue of patience.  May God bless you and your family.