“Love is patient” (1 Cor. 13:4)
I don’t like to wait. I don’t like to wait in line. I don’t like to wait because someone is thoughtlessly blocking the whole aisle with his cart. I don’t like people cutting in front of me in traffic or driving all the way to the very end of a lane that is running out and then trying to squeeze in front of me. I am impatient. But love is not.
Scripture tells us we are to esteem others better than ourselves, to love our neighbor as ourselves. Love is patient, and if I would be patient I would be happier. If I am patient, then I don’t mind the line. In fact, I could use that down time. I could pray while I am waiting. I could pray for the cashier and the other people in line. I could make someone’s day a little better by letting her go in front of me if I am patiently waiting.
If I am patient, I would nicely say, “Excuse me” to the person blocking the aisle instead of fuming about how inconsiderate he is being to me. (I must think the sun rises and sets on me, huh?)
If I am patient, I leave room for another car to get in my lane in front of me instead of stressing myself over trying to leave less than an inch between myself and the car in front of me because “No one is going to get my spot in line!”
In fact, all of God’s instructions to us–the do’s AND the dont’s–are, in fact, for our good. If we would just do what He says, we would be happier and less stressed. Can’t we all use a little more happiness and a little (or a lot!) less stress? Let’s choose together to be a little more patient with one another, starting today. What have we got to lose?
Yours in love and in Christ,
Sonya Richards
(To access the entire “Lessons in Love From 1 Corinthians 13” mini-series, please click here.)