An early January trip to my local Hallmark store revealed a transform in progress. The prices on the remaining Christmas items were drastically reduced, the ornament display was being dismantled, and the Valentine Day inventory was already displayed.
Browsing the Valentine cards that express love in so many ways, I pondered, “How do those who lack a relationship with God, the author of love, accurately express love?” Several cards included verses from 1 Corinthians 13, the passage which is possibly the most popular wedding scripture on earth. While it definitely applies to marriage, it’s also relevant to every facet of life. Verses 4-7 describe love in action and begin with the foundational quality of patience.
Biblical patience is the ability to endure displeasure for a long time without seeking revenge or developing a bitter spirit. Several questions assist us in determining if our love is patient:
Is a friend or acquaintance treating you badly? Consider their past and/or current circumstances. Remember that unhealed wounds often translate into destructive behavior patterns. Will you choose to be patient with them?
Does a response from your spouse at the conclusion of the day seem harsh? Are you willing to extend patience by graciously replying to them?
Are you struggling with being patient with others? Patience challenges you to seek to determine if they have stress points in their lives. Perhaps there are health, finance, work, or life issues that are causing them to act unlovingly. Will you choose to extend patience even when they don’t deserve it?
Patient love bears with offenses and is slow to repay or punish those who offend. Patient love is often used to describe our heavenly Father who has an immense capacity for patience (2 Peter 3:9). Ephesians 5:1 challenges believers to “be imitators of God as dear children.” Since scripture is adamant in its instructions to follow our heavenly Father’s example, spending time analyzing it is a beneficial study. Both Psalm 86 and 145 provide a synopsis of His demonstration of patient love. Let’s focus on Psalm 145 and evaluate it from two perspectives. The first is to identify how He displays patience with His children. We then will pose questions that challenge us to follow His example of extending patient love to others.
Gracious (145:8). Will I make a concentrated effort to integrate the attributes of graciousness, patience, benevolence, kindness, and courtesy into my life so that my behavior brings honor to my heavenly Father (Prov. 11:16)?
Merciful (145:8). Do I demonstrate kindness beyond what is demanded by fairness (Luke 6:27-38), and a choice to forgive (Matt. 6:14-15; John 13:15)?
Full of compassion (145:8). Do I express sorrow for the sufferings or trouble of others, with the urge to help (Matt. 6:36-38, 20:29-34; Luke 10:29-38)?
Slow to anger (145:9). Am I quick to acknowledge that anger generated by selfishness and pride is a sin and choose to resolve conflict as rapidly as possible (Rom. 12:17-21; Eph. 4:262-27; James 5:16)?
Good to all (145:9). Am I quick to offer assistance to others, being careful not to discriminate in any way (Prov. 31:20; James 2:1-4)?
Tender mercies are over all His works (145:9). Do I realize that whatever I do is to be aligned with the character of my Lord and completed in the manner that reflects the quality of His workmanship? (1 Cor. 10:31; Col. 3:17).
Embracing patient love is a life-long endeavor. I urge you to begin the endeavor by studying the remaining qualities in Psalm 145 as well as those in Psalm 86. Though we will never completely fulfill the goal, our challenge is to adopt the single purpose of the Apostle Paul and “press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 3:13-14). Kelsey’s Korner describes how she seeks to model patient love in her role as mama!
KELSEY’S KORNER
Christmas came and (quickly!) went, New Year festivities ensued, MUCH food was eaten, and suddenly, just like that, it’s 2022. I used to laugh and roll my eyes when my mother would talk about how quickly time seemed to go by, but now I fully understand!
Stuck on this side of the New Year, with no redos, take-backs, or additions, my mind is filled with thoughts of the past year. Did I grow spiritually, intellectually? Did I accomplish much? Was I a good wife, mother, friend? As I think through the past year, comparing it to other years, a pit forms in the bottom of my stomach. I accomplished significantly less this past year than I usually do. Many of my home projects are untouched, I haven’t read ANY books aside from the Bible, and, to top it all off, I’ve gained a solid 10 (or more) lbs. Despite appearances, I remind myself that this sudden drop in personal accomplishments is not due to laziness or lack of effort, but the wonderful joys of motherhood.
Motherhood. I chuckle as I try to muster the words to describe this complex role! The blessings and joys of motherhood are truly too much for adequate words! Fourteen months into this new role and I still daily marvel that the Lord allows his sinful people to experience this much joy this side of heaven! But the joys of motherhood absolutely do come at a cost, and that’s where my theme word for 2021 fits in: patience.
I’m the type of person that likes to get things done quickly! When I was little, I remember my mom daily admonishing me to “slow down!” Well, the only thing I’ve done quickly since entering motherhood is to learn that now, everything takes more time, effort, and willpower. It takes twice as long to fix meals with an extroverted toddler that always wants to be held, it takes three times as long to just leave the house, and it takes five times as long to clean up when toys appear just as quickly as they’re put away! I often start the day with a list of tasks I feel confident I should be able to accomplish, and I spend all day working harder than I ever have, yet I end up completing maybe a quarter of the items that, before motherhood, I could have accomplished in a few focused hours. I’m sure many of you can relate!
This drastic change in productivity has been a hard pill for me to swallow. Each task and moment requires me to lean on the Lord, submitting all my concerns and anxieties to Him. When I’m tempted to wallow in anxiety or despair, these reminders hold me fast:
Patience naturally comes when we trust the Lord with our time, energy, and resources. We are not in ultimate control of them—He is! (Ps. 37:7).
Patience becomes immensely easier when we focus on the impact we are making on our children, not on the unchecked items on our to-do lists (Prov. 22:6).
Patience is cultivated when we remember that “all things work together for good for those who love God” (Rom 8:28). The good being our sanctification!
Patience is nurtured when we remember that the Lord sees our hearts, our desire to honor Him in our circumstances (Gal. 6:9).
I may no longer have clean baseboards or a diverse meal prep menu, but by the Lord’s grace, I’ve become a more patient, compassionate, and selfless mama throughout the year. Our kind Father knows the idols of our hearts. For those who are His, He lovingly creates circumstances that bring about sanctification in our lives. So if you, too, find yourself in a trying season of life, purpose with me to allow the spiritual fruit of patience to fill your heart!
THE EVERYDAY HOMEMAKER’S MONTHLY MEDITATION THOUGHT
God’s Word states, “Love is patient and kind…” (1 Cor. 13:4).
Therefore, I may boldly say, “I will choose to follow my heavenly Father’s model of patience by bearing with the offenses of others and being slow to repay or punish those who offend!”
You might enjoy other of our patience, motherhood related Posts:
“The Honored Role of Physical and Spiritual Motherhood”
“Are You Confident in God’s Love for You?”
“Do You Believe in the Sanctity of Life for All Tongues, Peoples, and Nations?”
“Do You Have the Heart of a Servant?”
“Are You a Magnet for God’s Love?”
Blessings on your day as you focus on making your house a home!