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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Patience (08/21/08)
I heard the saying “patience is a virtue” so many times that I really don’t take the time to consider what it means. I think that its value has become so abuse it already loose its true meaning to peoples’ lives. If it hadn’t been for some Bible study on 1 Corinthians 13, I will probably never consider it. I was taught that patience really means long suffering. It is technically the person’s capability to endure under certain amounts of suffering for a long period of time. Then, I consider what virtue means. Out of pure laziness, I just let Microsoft Word find the synonym of virtue for me. One of the synonyms of virtue is desirable quality. In other words, the saying patience is a virtue can be translated into this sentence:

“The ability to endure suffering for a long time is a desirable quality.”

So do you still take the saying “patience is a virtue” as something natural? Personally, I find it difficult to understand. How can anyone, in the most natural point of view, consider patience as a desirable quality? I couldn’t even stand people who promise to come at this hour only to come two hours late. Well, I’d still consider them as friends but I’ve already killed them a thousand times with my thoughts. But seriously, is patience really a virtue? Is the ability to be patient really something to be desired?

Yes, I believe that patience is desirable. In fact, the Bible orders us to love one another and being patient is a manifestation of that love. I also know that God wants me to be patient with other people just as he has been patient with me. Still, patience is a difficult quality to attain. It will require me to give up certain rights. I will also have to swallow my pride in certain situations. I will also have to show kindness to people who really don’t deserve it. Worst, I’ll have to pray the way Jesus prayed when He was dying on the cross. Jesus is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He could have said enough is enough when he had to carry all my sins on the cross. With just one word he could have ask for 12 legions of angels to save him from those nails. Yet, even as he suffered on the cross he prayed “Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing (Luke 23: 34a)”.

I honestly don’t think I could do that. I have met many people in my life and a few are really difficult to handle. Some made me angry. Others hurt me so bad all I could really do is cry. I’ve also got into many uncontrollable situations that really frustrated me. I wanted to blame someone but I really have no one to blame. The situation happens because it happened and all I could do is endure it. Still I want to scream out loud and blame someone for the misfortune that happened to me. At times, I really blamed God for letting this thing happened to me. In both these areas, the last thing that I want to do is to be still and be patient. But every time I get to think of Jesus’ example I began to remember that he too was patient with me. Jesus was and still is patient with me. Of course, God disciplines me for my sake and I do get to rip the consequences of my sins. Yet, he is patient with me in ways that I don’t always understand. He also wants me to show this same kind of love to the people around me.

They say that patience is a virtue. I honestly think so too. None the less, it is a very difficult virtue to attain. I would need God’s love to indwell in me to the point that it’s overflowing. As they say, you can’t give something that you don’t have. God bless you.
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Member Comments
Member
Date
LauraLee Shaw
08/29/08
I like the point you made in your last paragraph a LOT. We cannot be patient without God's help. Well said!
Amy Edwards
08/30/08
Well done!
Stacey LaMontagne
09/02/08
Good points made here. I would suggest you reread over it and revise it a bit. There are many grammatical errors. In that last large paragraph you said "rip the consequences" and I think you meant "reap" them. Little things like that will help it flow better for the reader. Good job. Keep writing.
Dan Blankenship
09/02/08
[I have met many people in my life and a few are really difficult to handle.]

I think I bumped in to most of those people this week!

LOL.

Good entry. I think you just needed to proofread a little longer before submitting it.

Try having someone else proofread it, too.

I rarely catch my own mistakes. My wife and daughter are really good at pointing them out, though.

:-)

May God bless and keep you writing.

Sincerely,
Dan Blankenship