Patience part 4
I like first Thessalonians. Always have. My very favorite Bible verse is 1 Thessalonians 5:17, "Pray without ceasing." So today I want to sum up what I think I've been trying to say in this Rant series with a verse from 1 Thessalonians. Chapter 5, verse 14, "Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men." A little bit of patience goes a long way. Like, here's something for this guy. And here's something for this guy. But this--patience--is for all guys! No matter what else you do, if you're being patient... you're off to a good start. Kind of like how Jesus--God in the flesh, love in a body. God in OUR flesh, love in OUR body--is the Alpha and Omega. The beginning and the end. The first and the last. It starts with love and it ends with love. Love is patient. WE are patient BECAUSE we love. Because we ARE love. Everything that love is, is everything that we are. Not just what we do. Who we are. If love is patient, we are patient. And, yes, it is like a muscle. Yes, you have to exercise it in order to help it grow. But it's in there. It's available to us. Here's what I do: Think about the times someone needed to be patient with us. And it doesn't matter whether they were or weren't. Because if they were, then we know what it's all about. But if they weren't, then we know how things could have been done differently and better. You can learn and grow from the good, the bad, and the ugly. If you're patient enough to get the lesson instead of just the stressin'. Things are going to happen. And there's nothing you can do about that. In this world you will have tribulation. But you can be of good cheer. You can enjoy the ride. You can let things play out instead of losing your cool. And in your patience, you possess your soul. In your patience--in the way you treat others--you show who you really are. How you treat others says nothing about them but everything about you. So find out what people need. Love them in the ways that they need to be loved. Let it start with patience. Let it start with rest. Let it start with love. And then it can end with rest, and love, and patience. Life is so much better if you're not freaking out all the time. If you don't sweat the small stuff, and if you realize that to God--to you!--it's all small stuff. Now, I'm not saying nothing is important. I'm saying you don't have to make mountains out of molehills. I'm saying you can let things be what they are. You can let things develope. You can live your life with the understanding that all things work together for good. You can trust that your heavenly Father has a master plan for you. That He has your best interests at heart. You can let people be who they are, without trying to change them. Instead of fighting everything and everybody every step of the way you can rest. You can be patient toward all men. You can live and let love. Love no matter what. Let what's inside--the love of God--come out by knowing and believing that it's in there!