Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy,
it does not boast, it is not proud.
It does not dishonor others,
it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered,
it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight
in evil but rejoices with the truth.
It always protects, always trusts,
always hopes,
always perseveres.
Love perseveres.
Because most of the time loving is difficult.
It may require a patient waiting.
How many times have you set out chairs for your wants and patiently waited for them to be filled?
If you’re like me–not many times, not patiently anyway.
Today’s world is one of instant gratification. We are like toddlers. We don’t want to wait. We want it and we want it NOW.
Sometimes we even become impatient with God when He doesn’t seem to ‘get it,’ and answer our prayers as we’d like Him to. There are some who get tired of waiting, and give up on God altogether–never mind that He might have an even better plan than our own.
But how long has God waited for us–to really grow up, to learn what’s truly important? How long has He waited for us to change our wayward lives?
Am I in a hurry to do that?
Not really. Yet God perseveres. He remains, always there for me, and for you, as if each of us is His favorite child, as if no one matters more to Him. God waits for us with infinite patience. He expects the same from us in our relationships with family and friends.
My five children know that each of them is my favorite. I think they know I’ll always be there for each of them. I hope my grandchildren know it, too.
Since she was an infant, I’ve been helping to raise one of my granddaughters. To say that it requires perseverance and patient love is an understatement. From infancy, through toddler-hood, through three year old tyrant, she and I have been through some times! She is now five, and I haven’t always been as patient as I could have. However, I try to persevere.
I wouldn’t take anything for my experience thus far—not anything for my sixth ( close-up) opportunity to watch a child develop and grow.
Oh yes, sometimes it’s crazy. Sometimes it’s loud, Sometimes there are tears–on both sides. That’s just the way it is with children.
But then comes the warmth of arms, the kisses, the smiles, and most rewarding- –the irreplaceable words: “I love you, Grandmommy.”
…….followed immediately by: “Will you paint my fingernails again?”
“Again?”
Again. What a word!
Again? Yes again. And again. As long as it takes, for as long as I’m here. I will try to be patient and to persevere. I will be there to do what I need to do.
And God will be there, too, waiting for me to do it.
Translating a World on the Edge 