Patience

Galations 5:22 (New King James Version)
But the fruit of the Spirit is...longsuffering.

I have always thought the word longsuffering was much more applicable to what patience really is. Having patience is not a walk in the park. It is suffering for the good of others, for possibly a long time.

Patience is not freaking out when your computer randomly shuts down when you are in the middle of trying to post. (yeah, totally happened to me this morning. I think God was trying to teach me something :)
Patience is allowing your siblings to push the buttons on the elevator. :)
Patience is letting someone else ride in the front of the car.
Patience is controlling your anger when someone steps all over your new books.

According to dictionary.net patience is: a minor form of despair, disguised as a virtue. Uncomplaining endurance of evils.

I like how it said uncomplaining endurance of evils. You are not patient when you wait your turn to do something and complain about it the whole time. Patience is to be seen, not heard.

1 Thessalonians 5:14 (New International Version)
And we urge you, brothers...be patient with everyone.

We aren't to have patience with just our friends or people we like, we are to be patient with everyone. Like Madison was talking about yesterday, we even have to be patient with those mean girls. I know for me some of the hardest people to be patient with is my family. Because I am with them so much, I seem to ignore the fact that they are real human beings and they are precious in the sight of God, and I am very impatient with them.

1 Peter 2:20 (New Living Translation)
But if you suffer for doing good and endure it patiently, God is pleased with you.

Although patience is a difficult virtue to attain, we do not strive to be patient in vain! God is pleased with us when we are patient! To be patient we do have to suffer long; it takes time. But the more you are patient, the more of Christ's glory you reflect to the world! Who are you impatient with? What gets on your nerves? Point that out to yourself and work on changing your level of patience with that someone or something.

Your Sister in Christ,
Jessica