Love is Patient

Source

Earlier this week I hit a breaking point with a few different things that were happening in our home and in my heart. I wrote on Facebook about it to let you, my dear friends and readers, know why I was silent. I didn't go into details because at that point I wasn't entirely sure what the problem was. I distanced myself from everyone and everything and began praying and searching my heart. I'm so thankful to have such a wonderful God that always faithfully answers us when we call upon Him. He showed me what the problem was. It was me and my heart.

I am not a patient person by nature -by any means. I get aggravated easily and have a quick temper. I forget that my family is human and makes mistakes. In my mind and apparently in my heart I want them to be the way I think they should be or act the way I think they should act. I forget that they are not perfect. I think that life should happen on my terms.

Do you see the problem here??

Thankfully the Lord showed me that my heart is where the problem was coming from. I haven't been giving my family the credit they deserve and I wasn't being patient with them. I wasn't even being tolerant of them.

1 Corinthians 13:1 (NIV) says "If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or clanging cymbal". Speaking without love means nothing and isn't heard. As long as I'm talking to my family in a harsh way my words are not heard. They are pointless. Unfortunately that's how I speak to my family sometimes -without love. It truly breaks my heart that I have been breaking them down more than building them up. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 goes on to say "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps not record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres". I've read this chapter many times -heard it many times- but never took it to heart. We are told exactly what love is but many times never practice it this way.

I have not been patient with my family. I have not been kind. I have been rude to my husband. I have been easily angered when things don't go my way. I have reminded my husband of the things I feel are wrong. I have not protected their hearts and they haven't been able to trust in mine.

I'm so glad that I was shown this problem and could right my wrong-doings. I'm thankful that I have an understanding and forgiving husband that loves me no matter what. I'm thankful that I could hug my kids and tell them that I was sorry and know that they still love me. There are some family issues that do need to be worked out but that can't be done out of love. I must be patient and understanding to teach my kids this virtue. Then and only then can we begin to fix the other problems like obedience and respect as well as other things.

No one on Earth is perfect. No one has been since Jesus and won't be until He returns. We have to remember this and only act out of love. We must be patient with everyone -not just our family. We must show God's love to every person we come across whether it is in our homes or in the streets. We must profess His good news to all in hopes of winning their hearts for the Lord. We must prepare ourselves and those around us for His return. We have to live by His words and His commandments. We can't pick and choose through Bible for what we want to pertain to us. We must live by it all.

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