Patience: or longsuffering is the fourth fruit. Patience in the dictionary is quiet, steady perseverance; even-tempered care or diligence. I also got two Greek words in translation hupomone and makrothumia. Hupomone is translated as "under" hupo and mone "to remain". This not only means endurance but endurance with hope that resists weariness. Not only can you wait it out but you can wait it out with a smile. Makrothumia's translation is makros "long" and thumos "temper". This I thought was interesting the definition said it describes a person that has the opportunity to take revenge but exercises restraint. Hebrews 10:36 "You need to persevere(endurance) so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised." We are to continue on against all odds. Not only are we to endure but we are to endure in a pleasant fashion. That would be where the hard part came in for me!
It sounds brave to say "trudge on" but in truth we are asked for more than trudging. On that note I believe that there are two kinds of patient. One is more like the Makrothumia for me. The chance to have revenge and not taking it. Not jumping to anger but tempering your reaction. When we are children we either don't know how to be patient or we know how but it's just easier to throw a fit and get it now. We don't like to wait for anything even as adults, I mean that is why fast food is getting faster and there are all sorts of products that go further in less time with less effort. That kind of impatience is something that can leak into your relationships and wreak havoc on your life. How about I just tell my husband where the Windex is without a sigh, even thought it has been in the same spot since we moved here 3 years ago?! What happened to that? Especially since 1Corintians 13:4 "love is patient" it's right there in the book! In my life I have a problem with just that. I find it pretty effortless to be patient with strangers and people I don't know very well. I have multitudes of compassion for others. When it comes to my own family and loved ones however, something changes. It's like a switch in my brain depending on who I'm dealing with. Hey they have been in this game with me for long enough to know what's up!!! In fact my lack of patience has often created tension in my own home. So after some introspection here is a rundown of why I think that is. I equate listening and retaining as equal to respect and care. In other words the more you respect and care for some one, the more hardily you listen and retain what they tell you. If you respect someone you listen when they talk because you value their opinion. As I came to this conclusion of myself I started to comically see myself as this Godfather-like figure seated in a room having people kiss my hand! Who am I that people should retain every bit of mind numbing inconsequential babble that escapes my mouth? Even more If I forget something that someone I care about said, do I hold myself to the same standard? Of course not, I have a million excuses for myself none of which include I just wasn't listening because I don't care. So why should I feel that way about others? Proverbs 16:32 "Better a patient man than a warrior, a man who controls his temper than one who takes a city." It is easy to be angry, at least for me anyway. What is hard is controlling my actions. Yeah maturity sucks, adults are actually expected to control themselves not only in public but even when you are at home in your pj's telling your husband for the 3rd time where you put his new pair of socks. God wants this for us. To display our Christianity by our patients we have to be longsuffering and in my case 1Thessalonians 5:14 "be patient with everyone."
The second kind of Patience I feel is Longsuffering. Longsuffering is what I would describe as Hupomone or endurance that resists weariness. This is the kind of patience we need to do God's work. The ability to suffer real hardships and endure with a smile. 2Corinthians 1:6 "If we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer." We are to have endurance for our duration in this world and struggle. If we have that divine patience we can continue not only to bring others to Christ, but to do that hard work with joy in our hearts and a song on our lips. Long illness, family separations, money troubles, everything happens for a reason. Sometimes God wants you to be patient and wait on him. Wait for his timing; wait for his go. We can't see the entire picture so we have to just keep going and doing as God has instructed no matter what happens. Good times, bad times, inbetween times. and for the times that are hard or seem too much to bear, not only can we bare them with this fruit, but we are to rise up and define ourselves and in whom we believe in those moments. Once again it all comes back to love. Love and have patients for others as God has love and patients for you. My new favorite verse 2 Peter 3:9 "The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." We are to have patients with everyone because we receive ULTIMATE patients from God. We have the same mission as God, bring as many of his children home as possible. So what if one act of patients on your part could lead someone to Christ? Would you do it? Even if you didn't think that person deserved your patience? Is that person so undeserving of your patients, that they should die and not have eternal life with the father? It sounds extreme but think about it. Patience is a wonderful fruit with many threads leading in many different directions. I could probably continue for a lot longer but I have a soccer game to get to! GO HIPPOS!
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