Today’s thought for the day is brought to us by Liz Cope
I have had to practice this in bucket loads recently. Patience with others and patience with myself. My husband has taken over the role of butler, gardener, cleaner, nursemaid and general handyman. (He might argue – nothing has changed!)
Apparently, patience is one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit, and so I am hoping that the Holy Spirit has nurtured in me the ripe fruit of patience.
It is difficult for someone who hates sitting around and who equates inactivity to laziness. However, these last few weeks have given me ample opportunity to read and reflect, to relax and ponder, to actually spend time not doing anything.
Jesus had to practice patience himself. He had a band of followers who were eager to see him physically overthrow the Roman oppressors, who saw him as the king, their leader. But Jesus, saw his role differently. He did not come as a religious zealot, or as a mighty warrior.
Rather, Jesus came to bring the Kingdom of God to earth, by love and mercy, not by war and revenge. Jesus spent time teaching and preaching, but also in praying and meditating. He was patient with others and with himself.
So, as we enter another week, let us bear the fruit of patience with others – encourage others to use their gifts and graces to further the kingdom work, even if the job is done differently to how we would want (it might even be done better!), and also the fruit of patience with ourselves. Take the opportunity to rest in the presence of God, to allow the Holy Spirit to fill and for Jesus to speak gently to us.
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