Today's' topic: Patience. Do we all hate that one? :P It's like medicine, the best you can do is just "practice" it. And, boy have I been doing a lot of practicing lately. Ugh!
It seems like everyone I know is going through something at the moment that requires a great deal of patience. Two people I know have recently been diagnosed with breast cancer. One had a double-mastectomy today & the other is planning on having her double-mastectomy in a couple of weeks. Two couples I know are trying to buy houses. One couple I know are waiting to find out if they are going to be adopt a 4th child (from the same mother as their other 3). I know several couples trying to conceive & things just aren't working quite as they expected. One friend is trying to figure out what food product he is allergic too & his diet hasn't been very fun lately. One friend has been very unhappy at her new job & has recently been offered another job at another company & is waiting for that to start.
Me? I'm waiting for several things. (1) A husband...(2) Children...(3) A husband...(4) The day when I no longer have to work outside the home...(5) A husband...(6) My tax credit on my house...(7) A husband...(8) The rapture of the Church...(9) And, did I mention, a husband
Patience isn't something you can have. There is only a very limited amount. Even God has an end to His patience. And, one of these days it is going to run out. I praise God that I am not going to be on the wrong end of that stick on that day.
Proverbs 19:11a says "A man's wisdom gives him patience..." So, how does a man gain wisdom?
Well, Solomon asked God for it. And, let me tell you right now, this is a daily prayer for me. Not just daily but sometimes hourly or minutely (probably not a real word). "To God belong wisdom and power; counsel and understanding are his." (Job 12:13) "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding." (Proverbs 9:10) Wisdom also found among elders. "Is not wisdom found among the aged? Does not long life bring understanding?" (Job 12:12) I am involved in two Bible studies associated with two different churches right now (I'll go into all that another time.) One of them is a ladies only Bible study of mixed ages. The other is a co-ed all of who are married except me, of course. What is great about these groups is we are all in different stages in our lives. But I must say, that I am at an advantage in both of these groups. I have the most to gain. I am one of the youngest in both of these groups but I am also one of, if not the only single in these groups. In the ladies group, the ages range from older/retired to twenties. Some are homemakers, some work outside the home, some have kids, some have grand-kids, some never had kids & some want kids. In the co-ed group, there is one couple who has kids, one couple than can't have children biologically but have adopted 3, one couple who are pretty much newly weds but want to start trying in the near future (I think), one lady with teens whose husband is in the military & absent much of the time, & then there is me. I think I am in a pretty good predicament. I have surrounded myself with people who are in places I would like to be or may be one day. Much wisdom can be gleaned from these people. (Now I'm starting to sound like some creepy villain from a Stephen King novel.)
Reading the Living Word of God is also a way to gain wisdom. "For the LORD gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding." (Proverbs 2:6) The whole book of Proverbs itself is intentionally given to impart wisdom. In fact, the first few verses of Proverbs explains the purpose of the book is "for attaining wisdom and discipline; for understanding words of insight; for acquiring a disciplined and prudent life, doing what is right and just and fair; for giving prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the young - let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance - for understanding proverbs and parables, the sayings and riddles of the wise. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline." (Proverbs 1:2-7) C.S. Lewis states in Mere Christianity, "Anyone who is honestly trying to be a Christian will son find his intelligence being sharpened." I wholly agree. I have found that when I am actively seeking the Lord, especially through daily Bible reading & study, I find that I feel smarter. That may sound a bit egocentric or stupid but it is very difficult to explain. I seem to "see" more of what is going on around me. I tend to pick up on subtleties in music, movies, TV, etc... that do not only not promote the Truth but actively try to dissuade people from the real Truth without their knowledge. I also seem to be able to find the words I want to say more readily. And, I seem to understand things easier & recall them better.
Ok, I'm done rambling for now. I didn't really mean to go into a treatise regarding wisdom but, like it says, these aren't really meant to be formal or intentional. More just a thought flow, a stream of consciousness. We'll see if I do this again. ;)
"Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience." (Colossians 3:12)
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