SIMPLY IRRESISTIBLE | patience |

| patience |

Sometimes, it is hard to be patient. It seems like suffering, and who enjoys that. In Galatians, Paul writes that the fruit of the Spirit is "love, joy, peace, LONGSUFFERING, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control" (Galations 5:22-23). When I read this verse, I think, "Okay, love - great, joy - great, peace - great, longsuffering - wait a minute. God, why did you put that one in there?"

Another translation simply says patience. What does patience mean? It means "able to wait without becoming annoyed or anxious" (Oxford American Dictionary). That really does not sound fun to me.

| patience |

I'm not naturally patient. Within a couple of years I've had kidney stones, an eternal i mean internal infection, a couple of sinus infections, wisdom tooth surgery, and now, possibly, a hernia. Each time that I go to the doctor now, I brace myself. I'm just waiting for the day when the doctor says, "Okay, we're gonna have to remove everything but your head." "What??!?" No, I'm not really waiting for that at all. I just thought it was funny.

Talk about a rough few years though. I'm sure some have it worse than me, but for a guy who has been healthy his whole life this is new to me. Honestly, sometimes it's difficult to wait for the medicine to work, or the surgery to heal, or the infection to leave, or the pain to stop. I don't want to whine or complain though. I refuse to feel sorry for myself.

I am still incredibly blessed. I'm forgiven for my sins even though I don't deserve it. I eat three meals a day (and sometimes more). I live in a nice apartment complex. I have the most incredible woman in my life. I have a great family, great friends, and a mission in life that I'm passionate about.

So, what am I trying to say? There is hope in the midst of your patience.