I should have seen this coming.
It all started when I was driving down overcrowded Interstate 75 near the city of Atlanta. I was simply trying to enjoy the day and stay alive while maneuvering my way home on one of the worst Interstates in the entire galaxy.
Although my knuckles were turning white from gripping the steering wheel I was as I said, trying to enjoy the day. Singing along with my CD …
“make me an instrument of peace, where there is hate let me sow love…”
When suddenly a work truck full of men cut in front of me causing me to have to slam on my breaks! Okay, slamming on the breaks was my own interpretation of what I needed to do, nevertheless the break debacle nearly caused me to get rear-ended by someone going 110 mph! (I’m estimating here. They could have been going 80…)
“What are you doing…you stupid idiot” is what I screamed.
After a moment of heart pounding and hands shaking I resumed singing along…
“…it’s in the loving we find love, it’s in the giving we receive…”
And then it hit me. The words. The ones I was singing and the ones I’d just yelled.
I’m sorry…I breathed to the One who was listening.
Shoulda known I hadn’t heard the last of this.
*****
In my morning reading I’m going through the New Testament. A few days ago I got to Galatians 5:22 and read over the familiar fruits-of-the-Spirit. My Bible had a note: “other lists of virtues: 1 Co 6:9, 2Co 6:6, Eph 4:2, 5:9, Col 3:12”
On a whim I looked up all the virtues from each verse. It would be interesting, I thought, to see which virtue is listed the most…sigh.
It is with a very heavy heart that I tell you which virtue was in fact listed over and over and over and over…
~Patience~
Really?
Although I didn’t get any of those virtues built into my personality if there was one that is almost void in me it’s the “P” word.
I’m pretty certain this will get more and more interesting as it usually does when The Father shines a light on something He wants to grow in me…stay tuned.
*****
How about you? Out of the virtues I found in those verses above, which were:
Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self control, purity, understanding, humility, righteousness, truth, compassion and forgiveness…
Is there one that stands out that you’d like to see grow in your life?
Come on…I can’t be the only one.
Love to each one of you…xoxo
Aaaaahhhh do I have to pick just one (said in whiny child’s voice)? Of all those listed I would say self-control and purity. But the biggest would be self-control. I tend to be a person of extremes at times. I get involved in something and I am either all in or all out. Cycling. Eating. Reading a book. Reading my Bible. What I view. So much more. I tend to think that self-control rocks my boat in about every area of my life. So I guess by a process of elimination it is self-control. Side: don’t you just hate it when God does something like He did while you were driving and singing? LOL
.-= Bill (cycleguy)´s last blog ..It’s Grace =-.
Bill…All or nothing? You??? wow, that’s one thing we have in common my friend. Saying a little prayer for the both of us 🙂
Forgiveness. That’s the one for me. There is a person in my life, by no choice of my own, who I have no love in my heart for. It is such a thorn in my side, knowing that God expects me to love and forgive him, but my human mama’s heart does not want to love him. When it comes to him, it seems any goodness and virtues I may possess wither up. I know he too is a child of God, and in God’s eyes, his shortcomings are no larger than my own, but gosh, it’s hard.
.-= Autum´s last blog ..Randomness =-.
Autumn…me too, me too, me too! And it’s the same couple of people that creep into my heart over and over causing my spirit to feel far from God.
It’s almost a continual battle. I’m praying for you to be able to give him to God. I’m praying for me too.
xoxo
Great post, Robin. I have to say “peace.” Deep in my soul, I’m always fretting over something. I might not even be aware, but I’m fretting and almost never at peace with myself. I know that God is in charge, and I work every day not to snatch that responsibility for myself.
Blessings to you and dear Emma and Lucy Jean. You’re all in my prayers.
Jean
.-= Jean Fischer´s last blog ..Lily and Hope =-.
Jean…I so relate to not even being aware but fretting …it’s like background noise that I tune out but it just goes on and on…hummmm, I’m going to be praying about this, I think you may have helped shine a light on another thing God would like to help me with…
thank you for the prayers my sweet friend…xoxo
Understanding. I want to slow down and be a better listener, be more present in the moment. I am an especially bad listener when I am in a large group of people in a social setting. BTW, I was praying while driving once (eyes open, of course) when a woman ran a light and kept me from going on my turn. I called her an UgLy name and went right back to praying. Ouch. Not a proud moment for me.
Nita J…I can’t imagine that you aren’t a good listener. You’ve always listened to me. xoxo
I guess mine would also be peace , i worry even though it does no good , i pray and pray [butmy prayers are being answered in some other way] because most but not all of my request seems they go unanswered ! i know this is not the truth in my heart .. i pray for healing but i seem to get sicker i pray for energy , i can’t hardly get off the couch . i pray to be the wife & mother i use to be but i’m not …………………………………………..
i won’t give up i will keep asking and waiting and trying my hardest to do my part , the part the Lord has put on me to improve on 🙂 but i can not do it myself He knows it and i know it so i shall just wait…………………….
Ginga Roo…love you . All we can do is our best and trust God to do whatever else is necessary. smooch (I’m saying prayers for you and your health)
Iwould have to say forgiveness if you made me mad when Iwas 4 years old I remember and I need to be humble thank yo for posting this and giving us a chance to think about this an examine our souls
Kathy…I have a memory like an elephant too! I struggle with forgiveness and strangely it’s with the same people over and over and over again! Saying a prayer for you and for me to be free of the burden…love to you my friend…
I have to say “self control”…contradiction here…I say I don’t have any yet the control I try to maintain hinders all the other virtues on the list. I try to “self control” everything and as long as I am in control I am filled filled with me instead of God…wow, too much coffee… Actually Robin, I find some solice in the fact that if my sweet little friend can show some anger in traffic then I may not be quite the monster I think I am…I am soooo amazed at how I can be in prayer driving down the road and how quickly anger and ungodly words come from inside of me. I must keep Me out of control…it get’s UGLY!
Thank you for your reminder..I must work on the P word too!
.-= Tom Raines´s last blog ..Affirmation of God- The Lord provides our daily bread =-.
Tom…I would so tell my kids and Mike that you referred to me as sweet…but I fear the hysterical laughter would kill them!!! xo
Ohhh, humility. I hear my judgements rise up in my head, and really, how can I be filled with humility when I am so busy calling everyone else out for their actions? Ouch… you are not alone. Humility, with a side of patience and gentleness.
.-= Vicky´s last blog ..Ushering summer out =-.
Vicky…I can’t imagine you being judgmental. I think humility comes to most people as they get older and screw up over and over and over!
I love your sweet self! xo
Patience and forgiveness! I really try to work on patience, but it is a struggle for me. And forgiveness is one that I don’t know if I will ever conquer! I feel like I forgive someone for something that is done, but I can’t forget and I think if I can’t forget then I haven’t forgiven! Oh boy, do I need to do some work!
.-= Steph´s last blog ..Labor Day Weekend =-.
Steph…patience is such a biggy! And seems a lot of us struggle with forgiveness, I’m saying a prayer that God would free us all from the burden of unforgiveness. xoxo
I definitely need help with patience. The older I get, the less I have. I’m so glad you weren’t in an accident and get hurt. We have the worst drivers in the world where I live and every time I get in my car I say a silent prayer I’ll make it to and from where I’m going, without injury. However, I usually do a lot of cusing and asking for forgiveness too. I always say driving is buying me a ticket to hell in a handbasket. LOL
Patsy…oh you made me giggle ” driving is buying me a ticket to hell in a handbasket!”
love it! Love to you too!
self-control is the one that was brought to mind by the Resident Teacher sunday at church (thanks, AStanley, for being His mouthpiece). sorry for the inconvenience of the rear-ending. glad you weren’t hurt.
Jenn:
Self control for me is like that game at the carnival…you know, you hit one ‘head’ and another pops up. Hit that one and another pops up…on and on and on.
I get a handle on one area of my life and low-and-behold another area gets out of control…good grief!
Sending hugs and prayers your way my friend…xo
Ugh. Self control. On going battle. But half the battle is recognizing and acknowledging it. 🙂
Gina…seems like lots of us have this issue but I love your thought that 1/2 the battle is acknowledging it! I feel better with that in mind. Truly. xo
I am like you with the patience! IT is so hard for me to be calm and let things happen. I realized it more when we went out to see my bro in CO. Things move at a much slower pace out there compared to NJ. THanks for your blog. I love seeing what projects you have going.
.-= Brenda´s last blog ..Student Art Journals =-.
Brenda…okay, thats interesting. I wonder if patience is more difficult depending on where you live? I’m going to think about that…’much slower pace’…ahhhhh, wishful thinking~
love to you and thank you for the encouragement….xo
Many years ago I was praying for patience and your
brother and my only beloved son, spilled a full gallon
of milk on the kitchen floor! That was many years ago
and I am sad to say, I’m STILL going around P Mountain!
Got to run now!!!