Patience and Longsuffering

I said the other day that I wanted to talk about patience. I referred to the following scripture:

Galatians 5:22 - But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness. (NLT)

When Pappy and I first started going to "our" church, I joined a ladies Bible study class and we did a Beth Moore study on the fruits of the Spirit. It was really a deep study, and lasted for several months. All of us were asked at the beginning of the study what we thought our weakest "fruit" was. I can't even remember what my answer was....but....I've come to realize that patience is not a virtue that a lot of us girls possess!!

I remember when I was about 10 years old, I learned to ride a bicycle...actually learned on my Aunt's bike at my Mamaw's house. I loved riding that bicycle. Mom and Dad told me I might get a new bicycle of my own for Christmas. I was so excited...I even dreamed about the new bike, and in my dream it was blue...a beautiful, shiny blue!!! That was during the summer and I didn't think Christmas would ever get here!!! I could hardly wait!!! And, guess what?? I got the bike and it was metallic blue!!!

Then, as I got older.....seems like I couldn't wait to find the "right" man!! Pappy and I started dating not long after we graduated from high school. I helped pick out my engagement ring, sometime in the fall of the second year we dated...I think that's right!! Anyway....somewhere along the way I figured out that he was going to give me my ring on my birthday in January....I couldn't wait!!! I remember not even being able to enjoy Christmas because I was so excited about getting my ring the next month!!

Then, I found out I was pregnant with Jessica Leigh after we had been married about 2 years. On the day of our first child birth class, they dug the footers for our house. That was a very exciting time for us.....building our home and expecting our baby. I was not so very patient during my pregnancy with all the people I had to deal with about the house!!!

All of that is to say this....as impatient as I can sometimes be, especially with myself...God is so very patient with me. All of the examples that I gave above...because I had to be patient waiting on something to happen....the outcome was worth the wait. I got the shiny new bike...I got the engagement ring, but more importantly, a wonderful husband....I had no choice but to be patient and wait on our baby, and that was well worth the wait to hold and love and care for Jessica Leigh!!! I had to be patient as we endured the rainiest summer ever for our house to be built. God allows me to goof up and have my own way, and be self-centered, because He knows me and knows that I can't do without Him, and I'll come running back in no time!!! I thank Him for loving me that much....so much that He gave His only Son to die for me. I've said so many times that I am so grateful that God sees my heart and knows that it is a heart for Him...that searches for Him and longs for Him and absolutely adores Him...even though I don't always show it....He still knows...because He is my very best friend and knows me better than anybody!!!

There's a song by Geoff Moore and the Distance called "Listen to Our Hearts". It's an older song, and if you've never heard it, please look it up and listen to it...especially the lyrics. There's a line in that song that says exactly how I feel:

We will use the words we know to tell you what an awesome God You are, but words are not enough to tell you of our love so listen to our hearts.