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 no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 1 Corinthians 13:4
Love patient.
Love is kind.
Shoot.
That is as far as I got before the conviction kicked in. Working from home has tested these aspects of love quite a bit. The kids photobombing the zoom call was funny the first couple of times but now seems less comical.
As our circumstances have now become consistently and drastically different than what we were used to, we can find ourselves running low on patience and kindness. When I start to dig down, I may notice how they are missing in my relationship with others, but somehow neglect to see how they are missing in my relationship with myself.
I am not very patient nor kind with myself, and this often blinds me to see how God is both patient and kind with me. This often becomes cyclical because if I am not living in the reality of God’s patience and kindness with me, then I am not living out that patience and kindness with those that I love.
I think it would behoove us all to stop and realize that everybody, including myself, needs a lot of grace right now.
It would also behoove us to realize that in God’s amazing love for us in Christ, there is enough for us all.
Take some time to stop and evaluate your current levels of patience and kindness both in your relationship with others but also in your relationship with yourself.
What encourages and fosters patience and kindness in your life and actions? For example, would setting an alarm to take a 5-minute break or taking a walk at lunch help lower stress and regain perspective?
