Welcome back! I hope this post finds you well and I hope your Labor Day weekend was fun, restful, and safe. Lately I've been reflecting on what it really means to be gentle and patient. For a long time, I thought all I had to do was slap a silly smile on my face, never have emotions, and be a doormat for everyone to step all over in order to be called gentle and patient. But here's the thing: that's not really being authentic and genuine because my actions were only surface-level. I could try to live like that for a few minutes, but eventually I'd snap and turn into a raging monster that made people turn away from me. I have emotions. We all do. None of us can be angelic 100% of the time. I also get frustrated when too many people demand things from me or do things I prefer they don't. God calls each and every one of us to live in harmony with one another. The beautiful thing is God created us with different personalities, likes/dislikes, and mannerisms. We are bound to annoy each other from time to time, but that is no excuse to give up on asking God to give us more compassion, patience, and self-control. I can't be as kind, gentle, and loving if I don't go to God for help. It is only by me taking time to dive deep into God's word and prayer that I am able to authentically love the people God places in my life.
God also knows I will mess up. I am human. But God also shows me amazing forgiveness and through knowing his mercy, I can also show that same forgiveness towards others when they offend or annoy me. God is the perfect example for me. He laid down his own life just so that I could do the same for others. He has given me grace. Therefore I must show grace to everyone else.
We don't have to feel like our love for others is just an act. In order to really live out God's mission, we must first seek Him and rely on Him for help. We will fail, but God won't fail us. He believes that we are capable of being people of great compassion, patience, mercy, and gentleness.
"May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, n accord with Christ Jesus, that together yay may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God." -Romans 15: 5-7
"Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience." -Colossians 3:12
"Whoever is patient has great understanding, but one who is quick-tempered displays folly." -Proverbs 14:29
"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." -Galatians 6:9
Peace and Love,
Chloe
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