My mom always says “Your patience is excess energy. If you are tired or running yourself low- you will be impatient.”
There is a lot of truth to this. I have been studying patience and have learned there are two greek words that can translated into the English word PATIENCE.
The first word in greek is Hupomone which is to have patience in our circumstances. Are you waiting on a job, or a husband, or your baby to be born? We are called to have Hupomone in our situation because of HOPE. We have faith that God is making all things good and that includes our present circumstance; Because we are filled with this hope, we are able to exercise patience in our life and present waiting.
The second greek word for patience is Makrothumia. This is the type of patience we have with people. Possessing Makrothumia is an overflow of the Spirit of God. We are called to not judge others and forgive others. When we are holding onto pain and resentment towards someone, we can not experience patience towards that person; do you understand that? We are short with that person because there is a block there. That block is from our unforgiveness.
The same is true with judgment. When we are judging others, we can’t experience patience with them…. we are too busy judging them! Do you consider yourself patient or judgmental? I had never realized the two were linked until this week.
The Makrothumia type of patience, the one that is displayed in relationships with people, is the hardest for me. I realized that this plays out in big and small ways. I can be patience in my situation because I have a big faith. I believe in Gods promises and have hope in my circumstances. However, in my daily life, I have learned that I can be short with people in my mind. They annoy me easily and I judge them. I am in a hurry. I have things to do… like my mom would tell me, I am low on energy and therefore impatient with people.
I am learning how to forgive, not be judgmental, and be open minded towards everyone God puts in my path. Hopefully they walk away from our interaction and feel loved because that is really what it is all about. I want to be a light for everyone Im a around. A source of joy and laughter. A person that has hope and forgiveness. A woman that is filled with patience.
I appreciate you and would love to hear your thoughts on patience.
xoxox