Friday, September 25

Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other.
—Colossians 3:13a

Colossians 3:13a

Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another,  forgive each other.

Try as we might to get along, there are some people who rub us the wrong way. They may act differently, think differently, or live differently than we do, They may have a difficult personality that annoys and irritates, or a habit that gets on our nerves. Or,  perhaps, they require an effort from us that we would rather not make. 

Whatever the reason, we find ourselves avoiding them, arguing with them, or judging them. In order to keep from going through these inner machinations, we tend to surround ourselves with people more like us—who think and act and look like us. We know how to behave with those who are like us, but we have a hard time being with those who are different.

When we find ourselves unable to bear with others, our soul itself pulls inward. We miss the mark of inward peace and wonder why. When we open ourselves to others, even to the annoyances and irritations they seem to inflict on us, our soul relaxes, because we are fulfilling our purpose of being a vessel for the patient and consistent love of God. 

Just imagine how wondrous our relationships would become if we had the courage to silence our own dissatisfaction in order that others might be filled with the love of heaven. We might find our own soul being drenched with peace.

Gracious God, let me have the patience of heaven, and a heart that gathers others in.